Afghanistan's Gem Hunters | Afghan Scene Magazine - Asia-Africa ...
Afghanistan's Gem Hunters | Afghan Scene Magazine - Asia-Africa ...
Afghanistan's Gem Hunters | Afghan Scene Magazine - Asia-Africa ...
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scene<strong>Afghan</strong> <strong>Scene</strong> December 2009YOUR FAVOURITE 26<strong>Afghan</strong> <strong>Scene</strong> December 2009AFRO BEAD RINGS ($5 each)by SILK ROAD at the GALLERIAwww.afghanscene.comPrices range from $5 to $500, and there’snot a carpet in sight. With one eye on yourbaggage allowance, we’ve got everythingfrom baby-burqas to haute couture, teddybears to beaded tops, earrings to essential oils - andmost of it’savailable under one roof (with secure parking).First stop for the hurried Christmas shopper hasto be Gangina, a few hundred metres from CityCentre or the UNICA Guesthouse, it’s a collection ofboutique stores with everything from overcoats toembroidered coasters, carved wooden cabinets andculturally sensitive clothes.Expect to pay a small premium for the sensationof a western shop, something resembling serviceand, almost uniquely in <strong>Afghan</strong>istan, the chance tospend a fortune without sipping copious amounts ofgreen tea while arguing about the price.Here you will also find fantastic <strong>Afghan</strong>-madedesigner womenswear and accessories from Tarsian& Blinkley. The first such company on the scene,T&B have been around since 2003 and now havethe largest and most sophisticated array of handembroideredgoods in town. Not only are the clothesbeautiful, they also provide much needed cash forthe women who sew them, many of who also have amajor role in creating the company’s unique designs.In fact, the best thing about handing overthe greenbacks, is it’s all guilt free. Almost all ofthe merchants in Gangina are supporting <strong>Afghan</strong>craftsmen and seamstresses. It’s fairtrade withoutthe branding.And that’s also true of Silk Road at the Galleria.Opposite the Park Palace Guesthouse and on thesame street as the Wakhan Cafe, Silk road productsare handmade by some of the poorest men andwomen in Bamiyan.But for those of you stuck behind the wires it’sbad taste Bagram t-shirts (available at Nato basesall over <strong>Afghan</strong>istan) and OEF mugs to match. www.afghanscene.com scene<strong>Afghan</strong> <strong>Scene</strong> December 2009HAND MADE AFGHAN TEDDY BEARS (from $15)by SILK ROAD at the GALLERIAESSENTIAL OILS & POT POURRI by GULESTAN at GANGINA:Made from rose petals, cedar wood and bitter orangeblossoms in Nangahar. 5ml Cedar & Neroli oil ($20), 2mlRose Oil ($40), Rose Bud Pot Pourri ($10)CHAPAN PATTERN BUCKET HAT ($10)by SILK ROAD at the GALLERIA<strong>Afghan</strong> <strong>Scene</strong> December 200927
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