afghanistan fashion shoot

In 1968, Fred J. Maroon (1924–2001), an American photographer known for his work in Life, National Geographic, Smithsonian and Look Magazine and as a White House presidential photographer, set out on what he called one of his greatest “mind bogglers.” After photographing ‘Cashmere in Mongolia’ and ‘Furs in Russia’ for Look Magazine’s “Far Out Fashion” series, Maroon wanted to push boundaries even further. Fascinated by the ancient Silk Road, he envisioned a story that combined modern silk fashions with landscapes once traveled by Marco Polo.

China was closed to outsiders at the time, but Afghanistan was a vital Silk Road crossroads — rich with history, rugged beauty, and “plenty of exotic locations,” as Maroon put it. So when Look Magazine approved the budget, he found himself on a plane to Kabul with little more than research from James Michener’s “Caravan” and a sense that this might be, in his words, “the last boggler — and possibly the last of Maroon.” He arrived a week before his team, scouting scenes that would become unforgettable:

The Bamiyan Valley, nearly 10,000 feet above sea level, where the peaks of the Hindu Kush — “the roof of the world” — rise more than 25,000 feet.

Bazaars alive with color and centuries-old craft traditions.

Historic caravan routes once called the “Valley of Noise,” where traders from China, India, Syria, and Ottoman Empire bartered silk, spices, and stories.

The resulting Look Magazine spread remains iconic — couture draped against Afghanistan’s soaring cliffs, mosque courtyards, and desert plains. The photos are a time capsule when fashion met culture.