LocationsFrom Zero to 2000: The Entrepreneur Transforming Women’s Lives in Kabul
July 13, 2025
At just 33, Zarmina [name changed for privacy] has become Afghanistan’s leading bridal dressmaker. When she was a young girl, Zarmina had dreams of becoming a fashion designer. But the path has not been easy, and along the way, she has encountered economic hardship, cultural resistance, and social pressure. Finally, thanks to her determination, and the support of her husband, Zarmina founded Setara-e-Derakhshan, a wedding dress business in Kabul. What began as a modest workshop soon grew into a thriving enterprise, producing 100 dresses each month.
“Becoming a woman entrepreneur has always been my biggest dream,” Zarmina says. “Since I couldn’t attend university due to financial difficulties, it only strengthened my determination to work even harder to achieve it.”
As well as pursuing her own ambition, Zarmina was motivated by the desire to help other women like her to achieve their dreams.
“There are many women in Afghanistan like me who have faced similar challenges,” she says. “I started with very small steps, but the dream of becoming a leading designer and a source of inspiration for other Afghan women motivated me to become who I am today.”
A Turning Point: Investment and Empowerment
In June 2023, Zarmina’s business received a transformative boost from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). With their support, she launched a six-month apprenticeship program, training four displaced and returnee women. IOM also subsidized salaries for six skilled workers, provided new equipment, and offered expert business coaching. The results were extraordinary: monthly production skyrocketed from 100 to 2,000 dresses.
Yet, one challenge remained: unreliable electricity. Even in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, electricity is only available from the grid for a few hours per day. Power cuts are frequent and unpredictable. Of course this is difficult for any business, but especially so for the intricate work required for dressmaking.
The situation improved when the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with funding from Japan, installed a solar energy system in Zarmina’s workshop as part of its countrywide ABADEI project.
With clean, consistent power, Zarmina was able to make more clothes and expand her team.
Electricity is more than just a source of light; it powers education, healthcare, communication, and livelihoods. It keeps homes warm, businesses running, and communities connected. When electricity is reliable, people can work, study, and live with dignity. Without it, progress stalls, opportunities disappear, and daily life becomes a struggle.
Zarmina welcomed more women into her growing business. The Setara-e-Derakhshan workshop is now more than a production space; it’s a vibrant training hub where women gain skills, earn income, and build confidence. Some of these were returnees - women who had been refugees abroad but had now returned to Afghanistan and were looking for work.
“I had a similar experience to many other displaced women and girls,” Zarmina explains. “When I returned to the country, there were no resources or support systems available to help me. I don’t want other women to face the same hardships. I see myself in every displaced woman and girl I work with today. It means a great deal to me to support them, to help them rediscover their strength and become financially independent.”
Powering Dreams, Stitch by Stitch
Zarmina’s dresses are now sold in Pakistan and Iran, which shows how helping local businesses in Afghanistan can help to link the country’s economy up to global markets.
“I truly hope for Setara-e-Derakhshan to reach more international markets,” says Zarmina. “I also dream of renting a shop in Afghanistan where our products can be showcased. This will become possible as I sell more products, increase my earnings, and connect with a larger customer base.”
A vibrant private sector, powered by entrepreneurs like Zarmina, is essential to driving Afghanistan’s economic growth. These businesses create jobs, generate income for families, and keep money circulating across all sectors of the economy.
Finally, Zarmina has a message for other women who have dreams like hers.
“I want to tell every woman with a big dream to never give up and never lose hope,” she says. “You may face many challenges and go through difficult times but keep moving forward. Persistence will give you the strength to turn your dream into reality.”
