The duo brainstormed ways to show how capable and multifaceted these countries are
– which was how Ishkar, an online marketplace for artisans living in war-torn countries, was born.
The name is derived from a plant found in the deserts of Northern Afghanistan that, when
burned, turns into a substance that can be used to make dyes more vibrant. “It’s an emblem of how something that looks ordinary could have extraordinary properties when you use it right,” explains Le Brun.
One of the first products Ishkar started dealing with were hand-blown glasses that were made by artisans in Afghanistan for over 2,000 years. While there were dozens of workshops creating the products in the past, the duo were only able to find one artisan who still did it, and ordered 5,000 glasses from him “to get the industry going again.”
Edmund le Brun and Flore de Taisne, who launched Ishkar to change people’s perceptions about conflict-affected countries, say sales have doubled in 2020
According to its founder, Ahmad AK, Vibrissae is a passion project launched solely because of his wife’s love for cats. “Before I got married, cats were just another member of the household, he tells
The National. But my wife loved cats, so we ended up getting one and to my surprise it was the best experience ever. They are the best stress relievers – something we all need during these times.”
Before opening, the owners adopted full litters, which is how they ve come to have three sets of feline siblings at the cafe. They have adorable names, such as Pyrette (for his pirate-like appearance) and Wolfie, and they were all introduced to each other from a young age, which has helped them