Textile artist and designer Zolaykha was born in Kabul and raised in exile in Switzerland where she studied architecture. Eventually settling in New York, she co-founded an award-winning architecture firm, ARX. From 1998 to 2003, she taught architecture at the Pratt Institute of Architecture while simultaneously training as a fashion designer.
In 2005, Zolaykha founded Zarif Design, a fashion and fine crafts company based in Kabul. Zarif, which means “delicate,” “fine,” “precious” in Dari, reflects the rich Afghan cultural heritage of traditional silk weaving, chapan-striped cotton and embroidery.
As a textile artist, Zolaykha creates large, ethereal installations: Hawa e Azad - Free Space was exhibited at the 2009 Venice Biennale, in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2011, at the 2012 Documenta 13 in Kassel, Germany, at Mucem, in Marseille, France in 2019 and at the Musée National des Arts Asiatiques Guimet, in Paris, France in 2022-23. In addition to these installations, recent exhibitions include Sur le Fil, créations textiles des Femmes Afghanes at the Musée Guimet in Paris from October 2022 to February 2023 and Tisser l'Horizon à l'Infini at the Association du Méjan in Arles, France from October 2023 to January 2024.
During Zolaykha’s residency, she will host two workshops, each offering participants the opportunity to contribute a garment for deconstruction, its story to be woven into a larger collective piece by Zarif Design —a testament to shared narratives and cultural connection.
In addition, individual appointments will be available, providing a chance for one-on-one co-creation with Zolay to upcycle beloved garments and/or shape new, bespoke pieces — all imbued with personal meaning. To make an appointment, or attend a workshop, please click here.
