Connecting Worlds Artisans

Garnish by Kara Hamilton and Turquoise Mountain Artisans

All four businesses that created this collection are run by recent graduates of Turquoise Mountain. Turquoise Mountain is incubating these small businesses by providing physical space, electricity, tools and business support.

Premier Jewellery was established in April 2014 by Atiqullah Ahmadzai. and specializes in designing and producing beautiful, traditional and modern pieces inspired by Badkhshi, Turkman and Rustom styles. Each piece features different indigenous materials including silver, gold, lapis and other precious stones mined in the provinces of Afghanistan.

Lajaward was established in March 2015 by Ms. Massoda Shirdill Kohistani – a 19-year-old female artist from Turquoise Mountain. Massoda provides employment for four young women in the production of jewellery & gem-cutting. She says, “When I am designing and making jewellery, it gives me a wonderful feeling – like I am building my dream. The designs and gemstone colours have life in them and speak to the rich culture and arts in Afghanistan. I hope to see my products shining everywhere.”

Gowharshad is a jewellery business based in the old city of Kabul, established in early 2013 by Ms. Nazila. Gowharshad currently employs four young female artisans and specializes in designing and producing beautiful modern jewellery, inspired by traditional Afghan designs that also incorporate Turkman and modern motifs. Each piece features indigenous materials including lapis lazuli, gold and other precious stones mined in the provinces of Afghanistan.

Javid Noori learned the art of jewellery making from his father, who began the family business in the 1950s. His family fled to Pakistan in 1993 and returned in 2002 after the fall of the Taliban, bringing all of their machinery and equipment with them, making them one of the best-equipped workshops in Afghanistan. They run several workshops but Javid still finds time to teach and give opportunities to new students. While the previous artisan, Saida, made the samples for this collection, she was called away to another project.

More about the collaboration with Kara Hamilton