Who is behind Gundara?

The Founders and Managers of Gundara

Jean Amat Amoros is a 35-year old French geographer who has worked in Afghanistan for almost five years. Jean had the idea to create Gundara. He designed Gundara's first catalogue and Gundara's online shop. Currently, Jean mainly works on improving the web shop,  on inbound marketing, expanding Gundara's B2B section and managing contacts with clients and partners. He still regularly travels to Afghanistan and therefore takes care of the quality control and the production of new designs.

Gunda Wiegmann is a 32-year old German political scientist. She worked in development cooperation in Afghanistan for two and a half years and returned from Afghanistan in 2009. Gunda is designing most of the bags and takes care of the marketing (flyers, newsletter, events, social media, press, radio etc.) and contacts with clients and partners.

 Gundara's Afghan Producers

Ustod Mohammad Yaqub is Gundara's main leather bag producer in Kabul. He is the owner of the manufacture Gundara cooperates with. When Gunda and Jean first discovered his manufacture in 2006, there was not much going on there, and they decided to try and find better markets for his products. He is the father of six. Mr. Yaqub and his family have gone through a lot of troubles, lived in Pakistan as refugees and returned to Kabul after the fall of the Taliban. Mr. Yaqub is the master craftsman. Gundara would not be possible without him.

The Turkmen Women Active Rights Association Afghanistan is Gundara's felt item supplier. We are proud to support this local women's initiative.

Zardozi was founded by the Danish NGO DACAAR. DACAAR started working with 3000 Afghan refugee families in Pakistan in 1984, so that refugee families could afford schooling and basic health care. It registered as an independent Afghan NGO in 2005. Zardozi works in both Afghanistan and Pakistan helping talented Afghan craftsmen and women to find markets for their products. Gundara provides a market for a selection of very fine handmade Zardozi products.

Gundara's Suppliers

Mualim Hafizullah is half Turkmen and half Pashtun. He is our carpet supplier and calls Jean his brother.

Atghar Saheb is our patu supplier. He has a little shop where he sells pakols, patus, men's scarves, some ready made clothes. Gunda knows him since 2004 when she came first to spend a few days in Kabul.

Gundara's Photographers

Ulrika Walmark is a Swedish professional photographer who has been living in Berlin since 2011 and got in touch with Gundara in Berlin.

Casey Garret Johnson is an American writer and researcher. He is Gundara's first photographer. Casey has lived in Afghanistan for 4 years and took many great pictures of Gundara's work and products.