We may have found one of the most amazing Afghan coats we have ever seen.
A rare red vintage Afghan coat with gold coloured embroidery from the 1960s.
The sheepskin on this coat is the most softest we've felt in all our years of collecting Afghan coats. Lined with fleece, edged with soft shearling, with two deep pockets and is embroidered with gold coloured silk.
2 button closures.
Size
Pit to pit: 19"
Length: 42"
Condition Report
The shearling on the collar of the coat has perished and could with being replaced. There is also a rip to the soft sheepskin on the same strip of collar on the back of the neck. A small tear on the chest and dark age related marks. Despite being over 60 years old, this coat is in good wearable condition but please refer to the photos.
Please note colours may vary depending on your screen.
This is a vintage piece. Threads may be lose, imperfections may occur. We are always very honest with our listings and will always list any age related issues we notice but please be aware that this coat is roughly 60 years old.
Afghan Coat History
Sheepskin or goatskin jackets - also known as Afghan jackets - were indeed considered a cult item between the late '60s and the '70s.
Traditionally they came in 3 forms; sleeveless, hip length vests known as Pustinchas. Knee length, long-sleeved coats known as Pustakis and ankle-length coats called Pustins.
Made with the fleece on the inside and the cured and tanned leather on the outside, Afghan coats originated from the Ghazni province, between Kabul and Kandahar in Afghanistan. Men would cure the skin, tan the leather and make the jackets, while women and girls embroidered them with intricate geometric and floral designs.
Western travellers started buying them in the 1950s, but they became more popular in the 1960s when hippies travelling to exotic locations started visiting Afghanistan and spotted them, turning the garment into a staple of their wardrobes.
In the mid 1960s Craig Sams, a young American, travelled to Kabul and started importing Afghan coats to the UK, selling them in hippie boutiques such as Granny Takes a Trip on London's King's Road. Afghan coats became popular with both men and women and The Beatles made the jackets even more popular in 1967.
