• The Six Cities Kilim I
  • The Six Cities Kilim I
  • The Six Cities Kilim I
  • The Six Cities Kilim I
  • The Six Cities Kilim I
  • The Six Cities Kilim I

The Six Cities Kilim I

Regular price
£700.00
Sale price
£700.00
Regular price
Sold out
Unit price
per 
Regular price
£700.00
Sale price
£700.00
Regular price
Sold out
Unit price
per 
Tax included.

What links the city of Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan to Paris, France?

The bakeries, they both have excellent bakeries...

Or Bamiyan, Afghanistan to Schwennig, Germany? 

There are nearby mountains where you can ski" 

When we think about forced migration we often think of cities like Lesvos, Lampedusa, or Calais; cities that make headlines for the influx of people seeking refuge in camps. In reality, many people will also end up in cities across Europe that are rarely included in this narrative. Cities like Schwennigen in Germany. These colourful kilims, handmade in Afghanistan, are a collaboration between Paris-based jewellery studio Bangla Begum and ISHKAR. They highlight the stories of some of ISHKAR’s Afghan partners who fled the country in 2021 and are now building new homes in unfamiliar cities. We chose to weave the names of European cities in the Dari script too, to illustrate how they had become part of a common narrative.

Watch how the kilims are made here.

Each kilim measures 1.4m x 2m and takes around three months to make. Email contact@ishkar.com for more information.

    Design

    Please note that no two kilims are ever identical, they are characterised by slight irregularities that are typical of handmade pieces.

     

    Shipping

    Shipping Terms:

    We will aim to dispatch orders within 3-4 working days of purchase date but please be aware that we are a small team and delays can occur.

    * For addresses in the UK, estimate shipping time is 1-3 business days via DPD tracked.
    * International shipping is available to all destinations via standard international post or DHL. For all addresses outside the UK, estimate shipping time is 5-12 business days.

    We offer free shipping for:

    UK orders over £200 (excluding rugs and furniture)

    International shipping:

    You can now take advantage of our Tax-Free Shipping service when shopping online for deliveries outside the UK. Simply add your chosen items to cart and UK VAT will be deducted from the cost of your purchase(s). A flat-rate delivery charge (depending on the delivery address) will be automatically added. Please note that customers outside of the UK may be required to pay import duties/local sales taxes upon delivery in the destination country; these are not included in the price of the goods you purchase and we cannot be responsible for the payment of these fees. Please contact customer@ishkar.com for an estimate of any local taxes and duties payable upon delivery in the destination country or contact your local customs office for further information.

    Returns

    Returns Policy:

    We will be happy to offer a full refund (excluding shipping) on items returned within 14 days of receipt of delivery. 

    * Returned items must be unworn, unwashed and undamaged products purchased directly from ISHKAR.com.
    * Proof of purchase is required.
    * Sale Items are non-refundable.
    * Custom and made-to-order objects are non-refundable unless faulty.
    * Photography prints are printed to order and are therefore not refundable.
    * For defective, damaged or incorrect items, please notify us within five days of delivery in order to receive a refund/exchange.
    * Email us at customer@ishkar.com to organise the return.

    Reviews

    Reviews

    Story

    The Impact

    Kilim weaving is one of the few livelihoods now available to women in Afghanistan. We’ve been working with kilim weavers in Afghanistan for years, initially working with women who’d been internally displaced because of drought, and now we’ve expanded our enterprise to other weavers across the country. With the new restrictions from the Taliban, women are prevented from almost all employment but weaving from home is one of the few livelihoods possible. Every kilim purchased will go directly back to the hands of the people who made it. 

    The Design

    These colourful kilims were designed in collaboration with Paris based atelier Bangla Begum. The cities featured are those that three of ISHKAR’s Afghan partners left and are now living in. One connects Qmars* - an award-winning photographer trained as a medic, now living in Paris - born in the northern city of Mazar-i Sharif, Qmars worked as a photographer for AFP in Afghanistan and is now in Paris and keen to return to his training and become a epidemiologist. Another relates to Sajjad Husaini, a ski champion from Bamiyan (the first Afghan to qualify for the Olympics), who moved with his family to Schwenningen in Germany in 2021. Finally, the link between Kabul & Flensburg is about Saboor Azizi, ISHKAR’s lifesaving logistics manager’s journey. Read more on each partner below. *Name been changed for anonymity

    The Wool

    Part of what makes Afghanistan’s kilims so special is the wool they are made from. Each strand of wool is individually spun by hand, giving the kilims great character. With its unusually long strands Ghazni wool is also famously hardwearing, meaning Afghan carpets can survive for centuries.

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