Overview

Fifteen years ago, Rangina Hamidi decided to dedicate her life to helping rebuild her native Kandahar, Afghanistan. The Taliban had been driven out by American forces following 9/11, but Kandahar was a shambles. Tens of thousands of women, widowed by years of conflict, struggled to support themselves and their families. Rangina started an entrepreneurial enterprise, using the exquisite traditional embroidery of Kandahar, to help women work within the cultural boundaries of Pashtunwali to earn their living and to find a degree of self-determination. Thus Kandahar Treasure was born. This book traces the converging paths of traditional khamak embroidery and the 300 brave women who have found in it a way to build their lives. The late, award-winning photojournalist Paula Lerner was dedicated to telling the stories of women in Afghanistan. Her remarkable images throughout the book show Afghan women's profound struggle, strength, and beauty. AUTHORS: Rangina Hamidi is the founder and president of Kandahar Treasure. She has served as the manager of the women's Income Generation Project for Afghans for Civil Society and lives in Kandahar. Mary Littrell is a professor, Department Head Emerita of Design and Merchandising, a research associate at the Museum of International Folk Art, and serves as chair of the Artist Selection Committee for the International Folk Art Market. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Paula Lerner was an award-winning photojournalist and multimedia producer. She was the principal photographer for the Emmy Award-winning project, Behind the Veil. 130 colour illustrations, 1 map

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9780998452302

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Reviews

This magnificent book allows us to peer behind the veil to behold the world of beauty, pride, and meaning of ancient Afghan embroidery. A triumph! --Peggy Clark, Director, Alliance for Artisan Enterprise

"""These rich and complex accounts of actual women underscore the intricacy of life in Afghanistan. This honest, close up view of the daily workings of a women-led Afghan business shows the intersection of the intimate with the geopolitical."" -- Dr. Rachel Lehr, Fulbright Scholar and Research Associate, University of Colorado; author, The Carpetbaggers of Kabul and Other American-Afghan Entanglements ""The authors have collaborated in deftly crafting a fascinating, impressively informative, compelling study that is unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Women's Studies collection in general, and Contemporary Afghanistan Cultural collections in particular."" -- Margaret Lane, Midwest Book Review ""Embroidering within Boundaries is a gorgeous visual, but also touching testimony of how traditional textile craft and the women behind the needle and thread can forge a new path for themselves in a region so wrought with conflict and hardship."" -- Rebeca Schiller, Editor, Hand/Eye Magazine"

In this beautiful book, Rangina takes us on a journey into her own life and the lives of the talented and courageous Afghan women she serves through Kandahar Treasure. This is an extraordinary story of resilient and remarkable people--a story that informs and inspires. --Melanne Verveer, former U.S. Ambassador, Global Women's Issues; Director, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security I'm thankful that this story is being told. We should all be inspired by what Rangina has accomplished. The world is better because of her resolve. --Kellie Kreiser, Executive Director, Thunderbird School of Global Management The courage and creativity of Rangina Hamidi and the women of Kandahar Treasure shine from the pages of this luminous book. This exploration of the hidden worlds of Afghan women tells us as much about the country as all the news reports about bomb blasts and kidnappings put together. --Matthieu Aikins, Journalist and Nation Institute Fellow This magnificent book allows us to peer behind the veil to behold the world of beauty, pride, and meaning of ancient Afghan embroidery. A triumph! --Peggy Clark, Director, Alliance for Artisan Enterprise These rich and complex accounts of actual women underscore the intricacy of life in Afghanistan. This honest, close up view of the daily workings of a women-led Afghan business shows the intersection of the intimate with the geopolitical. --Dr. Rachel Lehr, Fulbright Scholar and Research Associate, University of Colorado; author, The Carpetbaggers of Kabul and Other American-Afghan Entanglements

Author Information

Rangina Hamidi emigrated with her family from Soviet-controlled Afghanistan to the United States as a young girl. As founder and president of Kandahar Treasure, Rangina is one of the leading voices for Afghan women. She has served as the manager of the women’s Income Generation Project for Afghans for Civil Society and has been selected for prominent professional and academic training programs. Mary Littrell is Professor and Department Head Emerita of Design and Merchandising at Colorado State University. For the past 25 years, Mary’s research has focused on how textile artisan enterprises achieve sustainability in the global market. Mary is a Research Associate at the Museum of International Folk Art and serves as Chair of the Artist Selection Committee for the International Folk Art Market, Santa Fe.

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