Zarif Design: Zolaykha Sherzad's Vision for Afghan Craft

“Zarif” is a Persian word that speaks of beauty and inner grace. Often translated as “elegant” or “delicate”, Zarif can describe an object, an artwork, or a gentle spirit. It is a way of being that resonates with artist-designer Zolaykha Sherzad, founder of Zarif Design, whose graceful presence reflects the emotional beauty of her suzanis and the relaxed elegance of her ethical fashion.

Born in Kabul, Sherzad fled her country at age eleven. Her family resettled in Switzerland, where she later earned a master’s degree in architecture. She now lives in New York.

With the intention to restore pride and meaning to disregarded or forgotten traditional crafts, Sherzad returned to her homeland in 2002, looking to build a viable, sustainable initiative that could support Afghan women financially and be rooted in Afghanistan’s cultural heritage.

When she returned and walked through the streets of Kabul, she was struck by the bright textiles still hanging from shopfronts and markets, unlikely yet powerful signs of life in a land scarred by decades of war. “These textiles were lights in the dark. They held the soul of the past,” she recalls. This unexpected burst of colour carried a sense of hope, sparking the idea for a handwoven textiles project that felt like a natural continuation of Central Asia’s centuries-old crafts.

Zarif embroidery by Zolaykha Sherzad, founder of Zarif Design.

The main goals were to revive traditional skills and rebuild a sense of worth in livelihoods tied to the beauty of weaving. After three decades of conflict had dismantled the artisanal textile production chain, her first challenge was to piece it back together, step by step, in close collaboration with the master weavers of Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat. Today, Sherzad oversees every stage of production, creating the colour palettes and fabrics that define her work...

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Full article written by Anne Laure Camilleri.

Image Credits:

Zarif embroideries by Zolaykha Sherzad, founder of Zarif Design.

Photos: Anne Laure Camilleri