ITANAGAR, Nov 11: The third edition of North East India Fashion Week- the Khadi movement-got off to a colorful start at Nyokum Lapang Field here on Saturday.
The day one of the 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 colored and uniquely designed collections made out of indigenous fabrics.
The line-up of the weavers, who presented their collections, were Ratan Yak and Potal Perme Tayeng from Arunachal Pradesh, Roselyn Tokbipi from Assam;
Koijam Mantri Meitei from Manipur; David Zorinpuia from Mizoram; Thekrunei-U Shuya from Nagaland 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.
The evening was brought to life by breathtaking performances by musicians as well as dancers from different states of the region.
Designer Yana Ngoba’s flagship event, NEIFW has been conceptualized to inspire and encourage the region’s artisans and designers, who work exclusively to promote northeastern fabrics and culture.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Yana 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 added.
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.
The three-day fashion extravaganza has been organized in association with the State Government and Arunachal Tourism.
