Farida’s Story

Farida came to Kansas City three years ago from Kandahar, Afghanistan, with 17 other members of her family as they sought refuge in the U.S. They live in a single house together -- "Every night is a party!"⁠

⁠We met Farida, and her sisters, while searching for skilled stitchers who could make face masks during the COVID-19 crisis. Refugee Employment Services set up the meeting, and Farida's mother, Merriam, claimed she and her daughters could make 150 masks per day. We didn't believe her at first -- our experience told us a stitcher could only produce a couple dozen per day -- but we gave them materials to make 500 to see what they could do. They showed up back in our studio with 500 completed masks TWO DAYS LATER. "I TOLD you we could do it!" her son said. ⁠

⁠Farida, and her family, take pride in what they do and will let you know they're capable of good work. When I asked the family to design some bags for Madison Stitch, they took the challenge in stride and delivered over a dozen bag concepts for us to explore. The first bag we introduced is Farida's design, made by hand in our studio from oxblood pull-up leather, sourced from Missouri, wrapped around an American cherry wood plank harvested from Kansas City. For every sale of the bag, Farida and her family receive a design commission. Link in the bio.⁠

⁠We're excited to share more of their bag design concepts as they develop. For now, please enjoy Farida's remarkable bag, which blends a unique, global perspective with local materials and workmanship.⁠

⁠Farida and her family are happy they've found work and a new home in Kansas City, although they sometimes wonder why the city is called Kansas City when most of it's in Missouri.