For Afghan women, tailoring has long been more than just a profession – it has been a gateway to financial independence, self-expression and cultural preservation. Amid societal pressures and limited economic opportunities, tailoring has provided Afghan women with a means to support themselves and their families while maintaining a sense of creativity and purpose.

However, in recent years, two major challenges – economic restrictions and the rise of digital distractions – have threatened this traditional craft and the livelihoods of many women who rely on it.

Skills and income

For generations, Afghan women have played a crucial role in the country’s textile and tailoring industries. Sewing and embroidery, once considered essential skills for young girls, was a path to financial stability for many women, especially those who could not access formal education or employment.

Afghan women who work from home have been central to the country’s textile and tailoring industries, practicing embroidery (such as khamak) and sewing traditional garments to support their families when formal employment was inaccessible. While male tailors also exist, women overwhelmingly dominate home-based tailoring and handicrafts, though men typically handle marketing and sales.

Digital distractions

Beyond political and economic struggles, Afghan women now face another powerful obstacle – the rise of digital distractions. With smartphones becoming more accessible, social media, online shopping and digital entertainment have captured the attention of young women who might have once pursued tailoring as a profession.

Fatima*, a 22-year-old from Herat, grew up watching her mother sew intricate designs and dreamed of following in her footsteps. But now, she finds herself drawn more to online content than to her family’s sewing machine.

“I used to love learning embroidery from my mother, but now I spend most of my time watching fashion videos and scrolling through Instagram,” she admits.

This shift in interest and focus has significant implications. As fewer young women take up tailoring, a centuries-old tradition risks fading away. The consequences go beyond cultural loss – without new generations of tailors, women lose a vital means of financial independence and empowerment.

Despite these challenges, many Afghan women are finding ways to merge tradition with modernity. Some have turned to social media to showcase their handmade designs, using platforms such as Instagram and Facebook to attract customers. Others are creating online communities where aspiring tailors can learn and share techniques.

For women like Mariam, the hope is that tailoring will not be forgotten. “Technology can be a tool, not a distraction,” she says. “If young women use social media to learn and promote their work, tailoring can survive and even thrive.”

The future of Afghan tailoring depends on finding a balance – one where tradition meets technology, and where the next generation of women can continue to sew their way towards independence.

* Names have been changed to protect identities