Chinese burqas are outselling Afghan made burqas

The burqa business goes bust in Afghanistan, as the Chinese burqas have flooded Afghan markets.

Chinese burqas come pre-embroidered, leaving only the cap and veil in the hands of Afghan seamstresses.

This is a much simpler and cheaper process than making an Afghan burqa which involves a number of steps, including the hand embroidery of unique patterns on the sleeves and the cap. Even Afghan manufacturers are buying material from China or Pakistan in part because it is easier to pleat.

The cut-price competition from China has drastically changed burqa business accompanied by the declining demand for burqas in Afghanistan’s cities, mainly the capital city of Kabul.

The decline in demand for burqa is highly noticeable as many young women have begun going to school and taking office jobs.

“Burqa is out of fashion now in Kabul. People choose to go with bare faces,” said Haji Hussain, who has been dying fabrics for burqas for the last 40 years.

In the countryside, where most conservative societies live, burqa remains in high demand. Women welcome the anonymity of having everything covered, even their eyes, amid growing insecurity in the country.