The hopes of young Afghan entrepreneurs Mohammad Fardeen and Romal Shafaq may depend on 14 brightly colored mannequins from Pakistan that they are using to decorate their new men’s fashion shop.
The relatives, in their early 20s, both want to be pilots. They hope the path to that dream lies through this tiny glassed-in space on the second floor of a mall.
The mannequins – five full-body ones that cost $50 each, and nine half-body ones with muscled torsos or long legs, for $30 each – are an attractive draw in bold blue, red and yellow.
They will call the shop “Lifestyle,” and today are still preparing for opening day, with stylish clothes imported from Pakistan. Total investment to get off the ground? Just $3,000, loaned from their parents.
“We are poor and need money for our studies,” says Mr. Shafaq, who wears his thick black hair straight up. But don’t they worry about risking so much money, when violence persists and the Taliban still threaten?
“We all know that all days [can be violent]. We’ve had it with them,” says Shafaq, pointing out the near-empty mall. “We want the best president. We are going to make our country – someone has to build it.”
“Everyone is taking money, but not working,” complains Mr. Fardeen, whose hairstyle includes long oiled bangs in front and wisps of new beard.
The two hope to earn enough to get through university, but competition is stiff in this mall alone, where fashion-conscious Afghan men have a choice of Western and South Asian shops and styles.
For Afghanistan, though, this pair hope their shop will help fulfill a broader ambition. Says Shafaq: “We want our country to be like America.”
