As-sallaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmahtullahi Wa Barakatuh,

It’s been so long since we’ve talked, sisters. After a much needed break, from work that is, we’re back in the full swing of things again. We’ve spent our few days off tracking down suppliers, looking over garments, talking to Saudi Arabia, and tapping away on laptops until our eyes hurt! A tireless search for the best, most unique and modest garments to truly make Marc Nahhass stand out from the rest.

We’d like to take this time out to feature one of the lines we will be carrying. Firstly, let’s start off by saying that although these items may be a bit trendy for most, they can also be that signature piece in your closet that just POPS! Pair it with a long skirt and cardigan, or thow it over a plain abaya, you simply can’t go wrong with these pieces. We’ll only be carrying a few of these pieces in limited quantities and sizes, but if they’re a hit, we’ll gladly feature more products in the future.

So, who are we talking about? We’re talking about Tarsian & Blinkley, the first in socially responsible, Afghan-made, hand-embroidered organic clothing. Tarsian & Blinkley is a bridge between worlds that rarely collide – socially conscious clothing and accessories that feed the fashionista’s appetite.

What makes this company truly unique is the collaborative process in which it engages its female handiworkers. They don’t etch embroidery designs on every product, rather, they encourage the women to come up with their own embroidery, beading, sequin-work, or crochet designs based on their general “art direction.” The results are wonderful, often one-of-a-kind pieces exhibiting a wide breadth of character and originality.

Here’s some info from the company’s website, tarsian.com, where you can get an in-depth view of the company as well as view their past and present collections:

The past 24 years have been an unbelievably brutal period in the history of Afghanistan that has left much of the country and its people devastated. Yet a rich cultural legacy remains and that is what Tarsian & Blinkley seeks to revitalize. Tarsian & Blinkley works with local and international non-profit organizations in Afghanistan to create employment and educational opportunities for Afghan women in an environment that really nurtures and protects them from the exploitations they would otherwise face in their daily lives.

We pay our employees extremely fair wages that are well above country standards and expose them to market-sensitive practices of quality control. Our partners provide skill training such as tailoring and literacy. In exchange for the opportunity to make a sustainable living, feed themselves and their families, and acquire some rarely had peace of mind, Tarsian & Blinkley gets wonderfully loyal employees who stitch, embroider, bead, and knit beautiful clothing and accessories using age-old handicrafts techniques unique to Central Asia.

We work individually with each of the women that we employ to identify their unique strengths and handicrafts skills. Rosama, Marzia, Anise, Fatima, Karima, and dozens more….each has a unique tale and creativity that is distinctively expressed in the clothing that we produce.

Tarsian & Blinkley’s philosophy revolves around the following ideals

To create beautiful garments that integrate, in a very modern fashion, the elaborate handicrafts talents of Afghan women, “transcend the category” of common ethnochic fashions, and link East and West at a unique level of artistry

To constantly pump money through the hands of a group of people who would otherwise have little or no access to income-earning due to poor education and low social standing

To place proper monetary value on the demanding work of embroidery and compensate female embroiderers in ways that will win them higher status in their own families and communities

Ethnomet

kimon_ruffle_blue400.jpg