In honor of World Refugee Day 2022, Nest and Etsy announced the launch of the Afghan Refugee Collective which includes shops owned by Afghan women who have recently resettled as refugees in communities across the United States. With guidance from Zolaykha Sherzad, an Afghan design consultant, these women created a stunning collection of home goods and textiles using traditional Afghan needlework techniques, which provide a tangible connection to their culture while they rebuild their lives in a new country. 

In partnership with local organizations that support refugee resettlement in Buffalo, Dallas, and Seattle, Nest and Etsy provided on-site product development and technical training on everything from opening a bank account to optimizing product photography, listing products online, and fulfilling orders. Additionally, shop owners gained access to a resource library with materials on how to set up and sustain an Etsy shop, complete with videos and documents translated into Dari and Pashto to make establishing their craft businesses a success.