Beshtar brings new perspectives to Afghanistan

By: Ayesha Mustafa, Founder of Fashion ComPassion, Twitter: @FashnComPassion

Beshtar is a social enterprise from Afghanistan and has received international acclaim due to its Burqa Dresses worn by Livia Firth and, in collaboration with Fashion Compassion, included in Vogue’s Green Carpet Challenge.

Besh’tar is the Dari word for ‘more’. And as its name says, Beshtar aims to be more than a design brand – a philosophy based on the assumption that more should and can be done for Afghanistan.

The inspiration for Beshtar comes from the resilience of a people living in a country that has been at war for more than 30 years. All the products used in the collections are textiles and items taken from everyday life in Afghanistan and reinterpreted in a modern and contemporary fashion. A Western approach to the business combined with an Eastern background and influences will help to sustain this business in a world heading more and more towards convergence of the East and West.

The current collection focuses on clothes made from fabrics (such as the traditional burqa) and other items such as wall hangings and tribal jewellery, from all over Afghanistan, and includes handmade burqa dresses, shirts, jackets, capes, harem pants and bags. There is also an evening wear collection of long silk dresses and gowns with Afghan embroidery and adornments.
All the textiles and raw materials are made by craftsmen and women in Afghanistan working to support themselves and keep their skills and expertise alive. The design of every garment or accessory is such that not a single piece of fabric is being wasted in the re-purposing process, but instead everything is used if not in the principle design then as trimming, adornment or decorative detail.
Beshtar’s goal for the future is to work towards establishing an atelier as a ‘school of excellence’ in Afghanistan to train artisans and ensure certain traditional crafts are not forgotten, allow them to pick up and become experts in new skills, couture dress making for instance, and at the same time help themselves transform their lives and that of their communities.

The Beshtar story
Beshtar was created by designer Carole Naim, who has an deep and personal relationship with the country because of her husband’s family history and personal work there.
The potential of the Beshtar brand depends on the story behind the clothes and products. What is currently mostly seen and heard unfolding in Afghanistan is largely negative. The positive, life-affirming stories seem to be few and far between. Beshtar want this to change. An pragmatic way forward is to have Afghans help themselves by marketing the country through its products. The country, unsurprisingly, has a wealth of natural resources and highly talented and determined people.

Beshtar is a business that will benefit Afghans directly through the use of their own skills and indigenous materials. In addition to generating employment and income for designers and artisans directly involved in the production process of the garments and accessories, the majority of the profits are also funneled back into the country by supporting as range of local charities, foundations, social enterprises and projects all of which are working towards rebuilding the the country and creating a better opportunities for the youth and women in the country.

Beshtar’s collections are available in Dubai and in the UK exclusively through Fashion ComPassion.
For more information please visit: www.beshtar.com.

— About Fashion ComPassion —
Fashion ComPassion is an ethical fashion company that works with socially responsible luxury brands in the UK and Dubai, and works with social enterprises from Middle East, Asia & Africa, that contribute towards developing communities, empowering women and alleviating poverty.
The company was founded in November 2010 and is a unique online fashion business that provides a platform to skilled and creative women artisans. The company is the brainchild of Ayesha Mustafa, who combined her two biggest passions in life: Fashion and philanthropy, to form Fashion ComPassion. Her vision is to create a “socially responsible label” that reinvests the way fashion is viewed and contributes positively to society.
For further details and other brands, please visit: www.fashioncompassion.co.uk