Summer Fruits Hand Embroidered Dress

Recalling summer days in their home villages in Afghanistan, many of our embroiderers would dry fruit grown at home or in local orchards. Important to them were cherries, apricots, apples, grapes and figs, the dried fruit sustaining them through the cold Afghan winters. Dried fruit is also important during nowruz, Afghan New Year, when it is added to water to make the special dish hafta mewa.

This bias cut dress style has spaghetti straps that can be tied in different formations. It is mid-length and features a split at side for ease when moving. Covered in hand embroidered fruits on front and back!

Off-white with fine navy blue stripe - 100% linen fabrication.

Navy - 55% linen, 45% rayon fabrication.

'The moon of my heart' is a collection of hand-embroidered garments and accessories developed in collaboration with eight talented women from Melbourne's Afghan community. Inspired by favourite summer memories spent drying fruit, weaving carpets and sewing romantic dastmâl (handkerchiefs) for their faraway partners, these pieces showcase the fine Hazara, Pashtun and Turkmen embroidery skills that are an essential part of Afghan creative culture. The collection draws on various symbols and connections to love - a winking eye, poetry, significant flowers - because, the women tell us, "we just make things from our hearts". Consider these pieces love notes from these remarkable and resilient women to all of us. Thank you to Zakera, Zakya, Shakila, Sakina, Shakeela, Mashriqa, Khadija and Hanifa for sharing your stories and skills with us, it's been our privilege to help bring them to life. All pieces were made with deadstock fabrics in our Collingwood studio.

Note that fabric is bias cut so there is a bit of give in the garment.