Afghan Vests
The Afghan vest — a sleeveless sheepskin or embroidered waistcoat, also called a gilet — is the most wearable piece of Afghan dress: light enough for spring, warm enough for winter under a coat, and worn open over shirts, dresses and knitwear.
Each vest is made to order and hand-embroidered by women artisans in Afghanistan using Ghazni and suzani stitching passed down through generations. We use natural sheepskin, goat suede and cashmere-wool blends; no two pieces are identical.
How to wear it. Over a white shirt or a fine knit, with jeans or a long skirt; the embroidery does the work, so keep the rest plain. Children's vests are in their own collection.
Sizing and fit. Vests are cut to layer over a shirt or light knit. Each product page has a size chart, and custom sizes are available on request.
Delivery to the UK. Free delivery on orders over £450. Made-to-order pieces ship in 2–3 weeks with DHL or UPS; in-stock heritage pieces and jewellery in 5–7 days. Duties and taxes are included — nothing to pay on delivery. 21-day returns. Prices are shown in GBP.
Frequently asked
A sleeveless sheepskin or embroidered waistcoat, also called a gilet, worn open over shirts, dresses and knitwear. It is the piece most associated with the 1970s Afghan look.
Yes. Each vest is hand-embroidered by women artisans in Afghanistan using Ghazni and suzani stitching, and made to order. No two pieces are identical.
Yes. Children's vests are in their own collection at /collections/our-children-vests.
Made-to-order pieces ship in 2–3 weeks. In-stock heritage pieces and jewellery ship in 5–7 days. Shipping with DHL Express then takes 2–3 business days within Europe and 4–6 business days elsewhere.
Yes, we ship worldwide with DHL and UPS. Shipping is free on orders over £450 / €450 / $450, and duties and taxes are included in the price — nothing to pay on delivery. Select your country at the top of the page to see prices in your currency.
You have 21 days after receiving your order to request a return. Items must be unworn, with tags and in original packaging. Contact info@aql-nafs.com to start a return.