3rd edition of North East India Fashion Week– The Khadi Movement begins - Itanagar; November 10, 2017 -

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Adi weaver Potal Perme Tayeng from Arunachal with her design at North East India Fashion Week 2017

The third edition of North East India Fashion Week– The Khadi Movement was flagged off at Itanagar’s Nyokum Lapang Field today. The three-day fashion extravaganza, scheduled to conclude on 12th November, has been organized in association with Arunachal Government and Arunachal Tourism.

Yana Ngoba’s flagship event, NEIFW has been conceptualized to inspire and encourage the upcoming handicraft the region’s artisans and designers who work exclusively to promote northeastern fabrics and culture. Speaking during the opening ceremony of North East India Fashion Week today, Fashion Designer and Founder of Yana in Style, Yana Ngoba said, “Today handloom is the latest fashion, and wearing handloom, the most popular trend. Northeast has never had dearth of handlooms, and after years of weaving magic in their looms, the weavers, and their artifacts are gradually becoming crucial elements in fashion.”

“Through North East India Fashion Week, we aim to bring recognition to the ‘magicians’ behind the loom. We, along with our partner NGOs, aim to train and market the weavers and designers from the region, and through sustained skill development, capacity building, cluster development initiatives help build a brand of their own”, she adds.

Day-1 of NEIFW presented a wholesome combination of designers, as well as promising weavers from across the northeastern region. The show left the audience enthralled as the models sashayed the ramp adorning brilliantly coloured and uniquely designed collections made out of indigenous fabrics.

Design by Manipuri weaver Koijam Mantri Meitei from Manipur at North East India Fashion Week 2017

The line–up of the weavers who presented their collections today were, Hill Miri Nyishi weaver Ratan Yak from Arunachal Pradesh; Karbi weaver Roselyn Tokbipi from Assam; Manipuri weaver Koijam Mantri Meitei from Manipur; Mizo weaver David Zorinpuia from Mizoram; Angami weaver Thekrunei-U Shuya from Nagaland; Adi weaver Potal Perme Tayeng from Arunachal Pradesh and Fulu Rani Debbarma from Tripura.

Besides, there were young as well as established designers from different states of the region, who showcased their designs and collections crafted out of the regional looms and fabrics. Noteworthy among them were Pamcose-Vintage Apparels by Risha Tok; fashion designer Anju Hazarika from Assam; accessory designer Amung Tadu Lollen from Arunachal Pradesh; Gloria Ovung from Nagaland; Nabam Chunkapfrom Arunachal Pradesh; Gunabati Adhikarimayum from Manipur and Milli Indira Dangngo from Arunachal Pradesh.

The evening was brought to life by breathtaking performances by musicians as well as dancers from different states of the region. Karbi Folk Rock singer and composer Phuning ding from Karbi Anglong; Apatani folk music performance by Tapi Taku Uka from Arunachal Pradesh, showcased the myriad colours of the region and made it an evening to be remembered from a long time.

Yana believes that it is very important to preserve the northeast region’s rich fabrics, traditional handlooms and handicrafts, and very few of the designers from the region are making an effort to do so. Their mission is to promote and preserve the vast variety of indigenous textiles and crafts that are slowly losing popularity amongst the younger generation, through fashion shows and help create business and branding opportunities for industries directly or indirectly engaged in retailing handloom, textile fashion and life.