I was first introduced to traditional Afghan costume by a friend at university. She came to a ladies' event in the most colourful and intricate ensemble I'd ever seen. Purples, greens, reds, silver, all worked into a (very hijab friendly) long-sleeved dress with matching shalwar bottoms - and all this from the country most associated with burqas. It's a shame that more people aren't aware of how beautiful traditional Afghan garments are. At the end of this post are some photos, although I'm not yet familiar with the regional differences in the costumes.

The modern Afghan fashion scene may not be as developed as that of other Muslim countries such as the UAE and Turkey, but a handful of designers are slowly emerging.

In July 2006, a fashion show was held in Kabul for the first time in decades. It was organised by designers Gabriella Ghidoni and Zolaykha Sherzad, and you can read more about it here. These are some of the designs featured:

Afghan Fashion Images

Afghan Fashion

Afghan Fashion

Afghan Fashion Images