Three sisters who weave high-quality carpets in Afghanistan's Kabul see an opportunity for their craft to reach global buyers at the China International Import Expo (CIIE), ongoing from November 5 to 10 in Shanghai.
Zahra, Fatima and Marzia, three sisters who were deprived of school and higher education, have mastered the art of carpet weaving over the last few years.
The time-honored craft is now the best possible way for them to bring food to the table. They are known as "the three carpet master sisters" in their neighborhood in western Kabul.
Their mother, Roqia Amiri, said she lost her husband, a well-known cleric, due to cancer after a long struggle with illness, and her daughters are now the only breadwinners of the family.
"I'm glad that my daughters have taken responsibility for their brothers and father by weaving carpets and are doing okay," said Roqia Amiri.
The three sisters weave not just carpets, but dreams and resilience into every thread, turning tradition into a tapestry of hope and strength.
They see the CIIE as a ray of hope, promising better wages and a better life for their family.
"These Afghan carpets are being exported from Afghanistan and the CIIE plays a vital role in selling these carpets worldwide, which expands weaving opportunities inside Afghanistan," said Zahra.
The young women take deep pride in their work and are eager to share their carpets with Chinese consumers.
"Weaving carpets is really hard work. It takes months to weave carpets with the threads. But as a result, a life-time guarantee carpet is being produced," said Marzia.
In Afghanistan, most carpets are weaved by girls and women in many provinces of the country, including the capital city Kabul.
The CIIE, the world's first national-level exposition dedicated to imports, has provided a broader market for handmade Afghan carpets, an industry that employs thousands of families.
China Int'l Import Expo provides opportunities to Afghan handmade carpet weavers
