Sharing the remarkable story of a young woman in Afghanistan, The Dressmaker of Khair Khana (John Murray, 2011) by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon reveals the realities of daily life for women in Kabul after the arrival of the Taliban.
Summary of The Dressmaker of Khair Khana
The arrival of the Taliban to Kabul results in a drastic change in the lives and plans of Kamila Sidiqi and her sisters. For Kamila the future now seems bleak, with her dream of becoming a teacher seemingly impossible and the restrictions of the Taliban making everyday life increasingly isolated and insecure.
The family suffers a further setback when their father is forced to leave town with many other men who leave to find work to support their family or escape political persecution. When her older brother also leaves, Kamila becomes the sole breadwinner for her family. Desperate to provide for herself and her five brothers and sisters at home, Kamila begins sewing clothes in her family living room.
Gradually, Kamila’s sisters join her in her business. Despite the need to be careful that their work doesn’t transgress the Taliban restrictions, which limit them even when in their own home, their resourcefulness and determination serves them well and their business thrives.
As word spreads, more and more women ask if they can join the sewing circle to earn money to support their own families. Kamila and her sisters find themselves running their own sewing school, teaching general and detailed sewing skills to local women, eventually employing one hundred neighbours and friends
True Story of Resourcefulness and Bravery
The story of Kamila, her sisters and the women of their neighbourhood is inspiring as the women display bravery and the resourcefulness in such restrictive and dangerous circumstances. Their sewing circle becomes a wonderful opportunity for them to encourage each other in their particular gifts and skills and to work together for the good of their community, offering each other not only income and companionship, but also providing hope in such troubled times.
The leadership, bravery, resourcefulness and resilience shown by Kamila particularly is an encouraging example for anyone who feels that their circumstances prevent them from achieving their dreams or showing compassion and understanding for those around them.
After years of working with Afghan women as an entrepreneur and community leader, Kamila was invited to address the U.S. Global Leadership Campaign’s 10th Annual Gala Dinner in Washington, D.C., a testament to her incredible influence and investment in her community.
Author Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
Los Angeles resident Gayle Tzemach Lemmon has worked as a journalist and producer with ABC News Political Unit and has an MBA from Harvard. Her inspiration for The Dressmaker of Khair Khana originated from a writing assignment on Afghan women entrepreneurs for The Financial Times. She has written about women entrepreneurs in other conflict and post-conflict zones including Bosnia and Rwanda.
A book club guide for The Dressmaker of Khair Khana is available at Lemmon's website.
Inspiring Story Based on Real Life Experiences in Kabul
The story of Kamila Sidiqi, her sisters and the women of their community offers encouragement and inspiration to readers everywhere, no matter what their background or circumstances. The story offers a glimpse into the hardships suffered by so many around the world and the incredible resilience of the human spirit, which overcomes oppression to go on to achieve and find hope in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
The Dressmaker of Khair Khana is both confronting and inspiring. It would make an ideal book club selection and is highly recommended for readers who are interested in a personal account of the experiences of Afghan women under the Taliban.
Review copy details
The Dressmaker of Khair Khana (ISBN: 978-1-84854-555-7, 256 pages)
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