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Hope, Crafts & Stories: Afghan Women in Arts and Trade
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300,00 kr - Regular price
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300,00 kr
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Photos by Marie Ravn & texts by Birk Sebastian Kotkas
In collaboration with Østerland & KØN – Gender Museum Denmark
This photo book portrays seven Afghan women who – despite cultural and political restrictions – are self-reliant and have achieved independence through their work.
Photographer Marie Ravn and journalist Birk Sebastian Kotkas have travelled across Afghanistan with Østerland, a Danish company that has been working directly with Afghan artisans for several years. They have visited women who are supporting themselves through their work with handicrafts or the production of delicacies such as raisins, almonds and dried mulberries.
For centuries, Afghanistan has been an important part of the Silk Road, where goods and culture flowed between Asia and Europe. Today, Afghan women carry this legacy onwards when they create jewelry, embroidery or painted candlesticks.
The book gives a voice to all Afghan women, including the ones we cannot hear. To hear their hopes, see their craftsmanship and share their stories.
With a foreword by Dr. Sima Samar, Afghanistan’s first ever Minister of Women’s Affairs.
The material is on display at KØN – Gender Museum Denmark in Aarhus from September 17, 2025, to January 10, 2026.
About
Languages: English and Danish
Format: Hardback
Pages: 96
Size: 25 * 32 cm
Publication date: September 17, 2025
Funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Information and Engagement Fund (OpEn)
Shipping + Returns
Shipping
Prices for shipping are shown at checkout.
Return
We offer full return (excluding shipping) within 14 days of delivery. The returned jewellery must not have been used. Please email us at contact@oesterland.world to organise the return.
Meet the Artisans of Østerland
Østerland collaborates with over 30 artisans in two countries, primarily from Syria, Turkey and Afghanistan. All of our artisans receive a piece-rate that is over the market average in their countries as well as a living wage. Most of our products are designed in collaboration with our artisans, offering you unique items found nowhere else in the world. Our relationship with our artisans are close and informal and built over the years with mutual respect and care between Oesterland team and our artisans. Meet a selection of our artisans here.
Frequently asked questions
Where can we buy your products?
You can buy our products on our website with local (Denmark) and worldwide shipping. Our products can also be found at a number of museum shops as well as boutiques in Denmark and around the world. Please see the full list here.
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes. We ship worldwide. We ship with GLS in the EU and for the rest of the world we use DHL.
Who designs your products?
Most of our products are designs that have already been developed in Afghanistan and the Middle East and belong to our partners and artisans. Many of these products and their designs have been passed from one generation to another, have evolved in response to their environments and contribute to giving the region a distinct identity. Sometimes Østerland will make adjustments to these products, so they fit into a global market. These adjustments can be color, size, shape and patterns. We also collaborate with external designers from Denmark which have focused on storytelling and showing the best the Middle East and Afghanistan has to offer. Our products will always have patterns, motives and techniques relevant to the local and refugee artisans’ culture. The Østerland team is always inspired by islamic, anatolian and central asian art.
Where do you operate?
We are based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Our artisans are based in Herat and Kabul in Afghanistan. Our artisans in Turkey are based in Istanbul, Ankara and Hatay.
