Artisan Spotlight: Meet Lashta

Artisan Spotlight: Meet Lashta

Thread Spun artisan Lashta is a resettled refugee living in San Diego hand making fair trade pillows, pouches and bags

Lashta is our talented head seamstress/designer/friend, who arrived to San Diego five years ago from her home country of Afghanistan. Lashta's husband was a physician in Afghanistan assisting American troops, and because of this was targeted by the Taliban. Facing threats to their lives, Lashta's family fled to the United States after years of waiting.

Lashta is a kind, open, and gracious mother of three. She is an amazing chef; my personal favorite food that she makes is bolani, a kind of flat bread with a vegetable filling. Before working for Thread Spun she ran an at-home daycare. Lashta has not let the challenges in her life impact her outlook, she is infinitely positive and hard-working. 

Read on to learn a little more about Lashta, and make sure to check out our branded goods, many of which were sewn by Lashta in El Cajon, just east of San Diego. Here are some photos of the latest pillows she whipped up for us!  Shop them now. 

 

Handmade and fair trade throw pillows in black bogolan mudcloth made by resettled refugees for Thread SpunHandmade and fair trade throw pillows in handwoven textiles from Chiapas and black bogolan mudcloth made by resettled refugees for Thread SpunHandmade and fair trade throw pillows in indigo mudcloth made by resettled refugees for Thread Spun

 

Lashta, when did you start sewing? 

I started sewing a long time ago, in 2012. 

What is your favorite material to work with? 

My favorite fabric is cotton and I really like to sew the zippered pouches. 

What do you like about working with Thread Spun? 

I am very interested in this type of work because this work gives me purpose and helps me to support myself and my family. I can even send money back to my mother in Afghanistan. 

When did you arrive to San Diego? 

I came to the United States in 2014, it was my dream to come here so that I could build a better life with my kids and my husband. 

What do you miss most about Afghanistan? 

I miss my mother and my family very much. 

What do you like most about San Diego? 

There are a lot of things about San Diego I love like the weather and the opportunities we have here. My kids and husband are safe and they go to school in a peaceful environment. 

Thread Spun branded goods are featured in their handmade and fair trade boutique in Encinitas, California

Thank you for your interest in the lives of our artisan partners and your support of our effort to create fair trade and handmade goods for the better good. 

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