The Afghan Fashion Show 2010 will take place on the evening of 7th October at Porchester Hall, London W2. The theme for the evening is “Made in Afghanistan” and will showcase clothes by Zolaykha Sherzad, an Afghan designer who is becoming known internationally.   She has recently shown in Dubai, Delhi, New York and Paris where her designs are on sale in the fashionable Agnes B shops.

Zarif Design was started by Zolaykha in 2004 to revive the Afghan artistic culture and all her clothes are made in workshops in Afghanistan by local men and women.  She says, “ I want to show people that Afghanistan is not all about war, orphanages and Burquas.  It’s also about textiles, and history and culture. It’s about beauty.”

The Afghan Fashion Show 2010, has the support of HRH The Prince of Wales and HE the Afghan Ambassador. The evening will be introduced by Kit Hesketh-Harvey and styled by Kamran Khavari who will create an Afghan themed evening with his trademark style and elegance.  Top models led by Olivia Inge will show the clothes.

This charitable event is the brainchild of Bridget Cowper-Coles and Sarah Jackson who got to know and care about Afghanistan through accompanying their husbands: Sir Sherard Cowper Coles, former British ambassador to Afghanistan and General Sir Mike Jackson, former Head of the British Army.

All proceeds from the evening will be shared equally between two charities directly involved with Afghanistan – Afghanaid which has worked tirelessly in Afghanistan for 30 years and the ABF (the Soldiers’ Charity) which gives life-time support to serving and retired soldiers and their families and is facing ever increasing requests for assistance.