Before Pascale Goldenberg initiated the project "Threads connect women", Afghanistan was a blank space on my globe – a country I knew little about, apart from news reports regarding the Soviet invasion, the struggles of the Mujahideen, the rule of the Taliban, and finally the US attacks following September 11.
The project piqued my interest to learn more about the country, its history, its culture, and the lives of the people there—especially the women in Laghmani. Since then, I have come to care deeply about their journey; they have become part of my, of our "One World."
Through this project, old skills – traditional embroidery – re-emerged like a precious treasure and were revitalized. Over time, I have accumulated a small treasure of these squares myself, and I am constantly amazed by the imagination and the diversity of patterns and color combinations, which inspire me in my own work.
I incorporate some of the embroidered squares into wall hangings and textile covers for notebooks, pads, and calendars. I also sell these at craft markets to promote and support this extraordinary project.
Text by Sylvia Tischer
