Banu Blog: The Birth of Banu Rugs

Welcome to our blog where we hope you are inspired about the stories behind our rugs and why it matters to you, our readers, and customers.

My name is Sierra and my husband Mohammad Ali and I created Banu Rugs to provide job opportunities for hundreds of girls and women in Mazar-Sharif Afghanistan (AFG). Banu Rugs is not just an opportunity for Afghan women and girls to have jobs; it has provided training and education as well as fair salaries. Banu Rugs is empowering women by bringing dignity and respect through beautiful and artistic hand-knotted rugs. Presently, Afghan women make up approximately 4% of the work force in AFG.

We were thrilled when we found out we had the opportunity to partner with women in AFG to provide job opportunities in a volatile and uncertain economy. We can employ over 160 women in a country that has a 90% unemployment rate. Poverty levels are at an all-time high. We offer fair pay, excellent working conditions, and other educational opportunities for these amazing women and their families. Our wool is 100% natural and is sourced from some of the highest quality Ghazni wool.

Traditionally, Afghan rugs are the centerpieces of a home. They're a welcoming and familiar place to sit with new friends, old friends, and family, to drink tea, share a meal, and enjoy each other's company. We want others to experience the warmth and beauty of owning one of these rugs. By welcoming a rug into your home, you will be reminded of the women and families behind each one while adding a timeless masterpiece to your space.

We hope that by reading our blog posts, you will get a glimpse of a world much different than your own. We hope, more than anything, to inspire you and to remind you that many good things are going on in AFG, despite the news or what you see on social media. We will share stories of resilience and hope. We also want to bring awareness of what Afghan women face daily and how these jobs have improved their lives. We hope you follow us on this journey to build a more sustainable future for women in this part of the world.