In a small Kabul workshop, Haji Salim's hands still shape lambskin into Karakul hats with the same skill they had decades ago. He has made the traditional hats for most of his life and says he has no plans to abandon the craft, even though the number of hatmakers has dwindled and business has slowed.
The Karakul hat has long been part of Afghanistan's traditional dress. Usually worn in the colder months, it remains especially popular among older men. According to sources, Salim began learning the trade at the age of 12 or 13 under his maternal uncle, who taught him the skills of hatmaking.
Over the years he has produced Karakul hats in many shapes and designs, and his workshop also makes vests and outerwear for men and women. Most of his products are sold at home, though orders also come from customers abroad.
He recalls a time when Kabul had many shops devoted to traditional hatmaking; far fewer remain today. He describes sales as moderate, neither strong nor so weak that he would have to close. But for Salim the craft is more than a living. He says he will keep at it for as long as he lives, preserving a tradition handed down through generations of Afghan artisans.