Established in 1982, the Ayesha Abed Foundation was tributed to one of Bangladesh's most important social activists of the 70s. Ayesha Abed committed herself to the issues of education, training and employment opportunities for women. She initiated many of the major activities confronting these concerns. 

Following her steps, AAF started out in Bangladesh's central district Manikganj. The main goal was to empower illiterate and therefore discriminated women. The foundation hired skilled craftspeople to train the women in stitching, weaving and dyeing. 

To come up with a first collection of embroidered textiles, the foundation began to study and catalogue the designs and motifs of traditional art forms by visiting museums, elderly craft masters and private collectors. They experimented with all kinds of traditional forms of design and materials.

As of February 2015.