Today, IIDA NY is hosting an event about artistry and women's economic empowerment, featuring Rob Leahy, Project Director of Kabul Carpet Export Center, and Najlla Habibyar, Chief of Party at Kabul Carpet Export Center. The panel will discuss the history of the centuries-old tradition of Afghan rug artisanship.
The Kabul Carpet Export Center is helping to drive awareness and economic empowerment for the many women who make Afghan rugs (often in their own homes)- women who have been consistently paid pennies on the dollar for their work due to the middlemen that monopolize the rug exporting trade. This pop-up launches a campaign to directly market these rugs to an international market at discounted prices.
The second floor of the Metropolitan Pavilion will be filled with 1,800 hand-woven rugs, direct from 12 leading Afghan rug manufacturers, all made from hand-spun Ghazni wool using rich natural dyes with designs that range from the traditional to the ultra-contemporary. Proceeds from the hand-knotted rugs at the pop-up will go directly to the Afghan manufacturers to provide more work for the women to create these beautiful works.
The event will be taking place at the Metropolitan Pavilion, NYC starting at 6:00 PM.
more: iidany.org (54)