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Afghan carpets to debut 
at Design Days Dubai

Abu Dhabi-based initiative employs 4,000, uses wool and natural dyes

Afghan women work on a carpet loom and a lady demonstrates wool spinning. - Supplied Photos

A collection of fine Afghan carpets will be exhibited for the first time in the three-year history of Design Days Dubai from March 17 to 21 at The Venue, Downtown Dubai, Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard.

The carpets are the products of Fatema Bint Mohammed Initiative (FBMI), an Abu Dhabi-based community development programme in partnership with Tanweer Investments of Afghanistan, which is dedicated to empowering Afghan women by giving them employment opportunities in carpet production, as well as providing healthcare and education to its workers.

As a humanitarian initiative of Shaikha Fatema bint Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, FBMI will offer demonstrations of carpet weaving and wool spinning.

More than 4,000 Afghan workers are currently producing the carpets through FBMI, which employs traditional crafting methods, operating strictly within Afghanistan using wool and natural vegetable dyes and ensuring that all carpets are 100 per cent ethically made.

Founded in June 2010 as a joint investment by both Shaikha Fatema and Tanweer Investments, FBMI has currently three showrooms: in Kabul, London and Dubai (on Jumeirah Beach Road).

Maywand Jabarkhyl, executive director of FBMI, said due to the benefits provided by FBMI, weavers from even the neighbouring countries have approached FBMI for employment. “Such is the widespread benefit that as a direct result of our initiative, the wages of weavers in neighbouring countries have risen in order to retain them. This for us is remarkable. Our aim is to ensure that these benefits are spread internationally.”

The art of making knots. - Supplied Photo

FBMI’s representatives are directly employed in the communities in which it operates. There will be two females at Design Days from Afghanistan, who will be participating in the fair.

“Design Days Dubai is of great significance to the initiative as we feel the event serves as an ideal pedestal for our carpets. The event aims to highlight unique products, specifically what FBMI is about - unique hand-knotted carpets backed by truly touching stories of hope,” Jabarkhyl said.

Visitors are invited to get a first-hand experience in making hand-knotted carpets. They can also visit FBMI and Design Days websites at www.fbmi.ae and www.designdaysdubai.ae.

lily@khaleejtimes.com