Artisans
A rug takes a season
Zarghuna and her daughters knot every rug by hand, from dyeing the wool to the final wash. Here is what goes into one.
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Impact
What $1,000 does for a small business
Training, a small grant and the right equipment: how one donation is put to work.
Artisans
Stones from the mountains
Sayed Jawad designs every ring around the stone in front of him, never the other way round.
Artisans
The turquoise of Istalif
In a hillside town famous for its pottery, Ustad Rahimullah still throws on a kick wheel and fires in a wood kiln.
Impact
A sewing machine and a full order book
How a tailoring business run from home went from mending clothes to taking orders across town.
Artisans
Carving the Nuristani window
Two sisters turn the lattice patterns of mountain houses into tables, trays and boxes.
Artisans
Keeping the furnace alight
Abdul Wakil and his sons blow recycled bottles into the cobalt and amber glass Herat has been known for for centuries.
Impact
The right tools for the job
A small carpentry workshop traded borrowed hand tools for its own, and doubled what it could make.
Products
The perahan tunban, made to measure
A look at how a traditional outfit is cut, sewn and embroidered by hand, one order at a time.
Products
Six handmade pieces for the home
From a turquoise teapot to a carved tray, a few favourites from across the Omid market.
Guides
How shopping on Omid works
From browsing a maker's shop to the piece arriving at your door, here's what to expect.
Guides
Caring for handmade pieces
Simple ways to keep rugs, glass, wood and ceramics looking their best for years.