Artisans

Feriel is one of the artisans who works full-time with Østerland. She fled the civil war in Syria, first settling in eastern Turkey and later moving to Istanbul. Today, Feriel lives in the heart of the city with her husband and their two children. Her best friend, Helin, is also a full-time artisan with Østerland. The two women have been inseparable ever since they escaped from northern Syria, supporting each other throughout their journey in Turkey.

Feriel has a deep passion for handicrafts, and just as much, she values the opportunity to earn an income and provide for her family. She takes great pride in her work with Østerland and hopes it will continue to be a lifelong source of stability and fulfillment.

Helin fled to Turkey after the Syrian civil war in 2013. She first lived in eastern Turkey and later moved to Istanbul with her family and her best friend, Feriel, who also creates handicrafts for Østerland.

Speaking about her work with handicrafts and Østerland, Helin says that she loves working with her hands because it gives her great flexibility in everyday life – something that means a lot in a city like Istanbul when you’re also a mother of three.

She also says that she is very happy to be part of Østerland because it provides her with a steady income and a warm, supportive atmosphere. She feels that everyone inspires each other’s work, and she truly enjoys being part of the team.

Helin has been part of Østerland’s artisan team since 2022 and is now a valued and integral member of the group.

Fatima has been working since she was a teenager, but jewelry making has always been her true passion. That’s why she chose to study jewelry design at the renowned Ferozkoh Institute in Kabul.

Today, Fatima leads a team of eight employees while also carrying the responsibility of supporting her family. Her story and craftsmanship are an inspiration - a testament to the strength of pursuing one’s passion despite challenges.

“For me, working with jewelry means turning the ideas I have in my mind into designs and giving soul and life to lifeless metals, so others can enjoy wearing them and feel good. This work is important to me because jewelry making is not just a job. When a piece of jewelry is completed, its beauty is very soothing. Jewelry making is a feeling of love, investment, and peace.”

Farzana Rasouli specializes in stone engraving, a craft she describes as a true passion. By working with precious and semi-precious stones, she transforms raw materials into unique designs for those who appreciate beauty and craftsmanship. This work combines art and precision, allowing creativity and skill to shine through. Some stones are presented in their natural form, while others are carefully cut and shaped into delicate, valuable pieces.

In today’s Afghanistan, this work carries special significance. With many girls deprived of education, more women are turning to handicrafts as a source of income. Jewelry making and stone engraving are not only creative expressions but also vital means of supporting families and sustaining livelihoods.

After the government in Afghanistan changed, Aziza was no longer able to continue her education, a setback that deeply affected her. The challenges took a toll on her mental and emotional well-being.

Working in jewelry making, however, became a source of hope and creativity, providing both personal fulfillment and a positive impact on her family’s economy. For Aziza, empowering girls to work with jewelry is vital in today’s Afghanistan, offering opportunities for independence, skill development, and a sustainable livelihood.

Jamlia holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Kabul University and previously worked as a school teacher. After the government in Afghanistan changed, she was no longer able to continue her professional work.

In the current, challenging situation in Afghanistan, jewelry making has become especially important for women. For Jamlia, losing both her career and the opportunity to continue working was difficult, but jewelry making has since provided a safe and practical path, allowing her to achieve financial independence and support her family.

Naqsha supports her family through the income she earns from her embroidery.

She has three daughters aged 6, 9, and 10, and her main priority is to make sure they have enough to eat, stay healthy, and are able to attend kindergarten and school. Because of their situation, she has to take on the role of both mother and father.

Her work provides more than just an income - it also gives her the chance to leave the house and be part of a community where she can share ideas with other women. When she is embroidering, she forgets the problems waiting at home. It gives her renewed energy -energy she brings back and shares with her children.

When she paints, she often uses a distinctive shade of blue that symbolizes purity and peace. The colors and her art connect her to her ancestors and the historical cultures that have existed in Afghanistan for hundreds of years. For example, if you look back 500 years, the Islamic world was filled with artists and well-educated people.

She was married at the age of 17 to a husband who promised her that she could travel with him to the city of Herat to study. She is deeply grateful that she had the opportunity to attend university and make new friends before the Taliban came to power. Today, she works as a painter and supports herself. When she compares herself to the girls who remained in her village, she feels like the luckiest person.

Nehla was born in the Turkish mediterranean city of Antakya right at the border to Syria. She has completed primary school and speaks Turkish and Arabic. Nehla’s interest in craft started at an early age. She has been embroidering and doing crochet for the last 30 years. 

She has always taken steps to develop her craftsmanship by undertaking different courses related to her arts, she has also exhibited her work at several galleries across Turkey. Once upon a time, Nehla dreamt of having a small atelier. Today she is the happy owner of her own atelier in the dreamy Turkish bordertown Antakya, where she was born. Unfortunately her workshop got completely destroyed during the massive earthquakes that has impacted millions of lives in Turkey and Syria in 2023. 

Growing up in Bamyan, she saw how many women struggled with depression and mental health challenges without anyone truly listening to them. From an early age, girls are often told to be quiet – not to play loudly or laugh freely – and over time this silence can turn into deep pain.

She dreams of becoming a psychologist so she can support women who feel unheard. When she had to pause her university studies, she began working with embroidery and handicrafts. Today, the work gives her independence and the freedom to earn her own income while still holding on to her dream of continuing her education.

Zhilla is Østerland’s project leader for the women in Afghanistan. Through her work, she has met hundreds of Afghan women, visiting them in their homes and listening to their stories. Many have shared how their dreams slowly disappeared as expectations from family and community took over their lives, leaving little room for their own hopes and ambitions.

Zhilla has faced similar pressures herself. When she was younger, members of her extended family urged her parents to arrange a marriage for her. Instead, she continued her path and pursued education. Today, she works closely with the women in Østerland’s embroidery project, supporting them in building independence and keeping their dreams for the future alive.

Mohammad Asghar Rahimi chose the path of jewelry making due to his deep passion for it. He began his journey in the craft in 1400 (2021 Gregorian calendar) at the Black Diamond company. Asghar predominantly works in a modern style and frequently utilizes silver and natural gemstones in his creations. Beyond his jewelry craft, Asghar has a keen interest in photography and often captures candid shots of the city and province. He has a strong affinity for modern jewelry designs and is highly skilled in this particular style.

Yılmaz Büyükaşık is the proud owner of an atelier that has been promoting hand-loom weaving since the early 1900s. The family learned the skills of silk and cotton weaving from the Armenians in Syria and has been producing silk and cotton since 1936 in Hatay, Turkey, right at the border to Syria. Yilmaz has participated in many exhibitions in Turkey to promote this age-old wisdom of craftsmanship. 

Mahmoud Aryan is a master artisan specialized in tailoring and sewing. He is from Aleppo, where he got married and raised four kids. In Aleppo, he worked as a tailor in an atelier for decades, working for customers in Armenia, France and Italy. In 2014, Mahmoud and his family made the decision to leave Syria for Turkey. They lived in a refugee camp for four years, before moving to Kilis in southeastern Turkey, where he now works as a tailor for a Turkish company and Østerland. Mahmoud says: “I love my work and when I create a jacket or a piece for a customer, and I see that piece on my customer, I always become so happy.”

Sadi Asfuroglu was born in the Levantine city Antakya in 1962. After finishing high school, he enrolled in the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts but chose to leave and pursue his dream of becoming a dentist. But in the early 1990s, he went back to fine arts with the encouragement of Turkey's Ministry of Culture. He felt the need to produce glass as this was also the heritage of his grandfather and his beloved city Antakya. He takes inspiration from the Roman, Byzantine and Phoenician periods. You can purchase his glass 'Daphne pendants' on our website.

Yusuf Mekikci was born in 1971 in the Turkish province of Gaziantep. He is the fourth generation to take over craft at the family business. For Yusuf, working with kutnu is not only about preserving the art of weaving, but it's also about presenting a piece of history that has been brought to Turkey from Syria in the 16th century. Yusuf says “The last decade, we have seen an increasing interest in the kutnu textile from fashion designers around the world. It makes me so proud and happy to see the kutnu textile in different styles and designs on the international market.”

Abdul-Jabbard sells the beautiful pottery from the village of Istalif, north of Kabul.
His father and grandfather were also potters — a craft that has been in the family for generations.

During the war in the 1990s, when the Taliban were in power, the family’s workshop was destroyed, and they were forced to flee to Kabul.
After the American forces arrived, they returned to Istalif and rebuilt their workshop from scratch.

Today, Abdul Jabba’s brothers still sit at the potter’s wheel in the village, while he sells their work.

Najiba Akbari is 25 years old and lives with her parents and three siblings. She joined Østerland’s embroidery team in 2023.

Najiba is a skilled makeup artist and is also familiar with tailoring. She is a talented painter and has created a small gallery in her town, where she also teaches young girls the art of painting. Through her creative work, she shares her passion for art with the next generation.

Shekofa Amini is 25 years old and lives with her parents and six siblings in Herat. She joined Østerland’s embroidery team in 2023.

Alongside her embroidery work, Shekofa paints and has built a small community of customers both in Afghanistan and internationally, where she sells her painted creations.

Susan Sultany is 25 years old and lives with her parents and six siblings. She is a self-taught painter who learned her craft through the internet and social media.

Today, she runs a small online shop where she sells her painted works. Through her art, Susan hopes to reach customers beyond her local community and share her creations with people around the world.