April 28, 2025
April 28, 2025
*Staff REPORTER*
ITANAGAR, Jun 11: Once again the weavers and designers across North East would get the biggest stage to showcase their capacity in front of the globe as Arunachal Pradesh prepares to host the 3rd edition North East India Fashion Week (NEIFW) at the state capital here from October 27 to 29 next.
The mega fashion carnival which intends to encourage and motivate the upcoming handicraft artisans and designers of the north east region this time around would also seek the likes of designers from Philippines and New Zealand participate in it. This was on Sunday informed by NEIFW chief executive officer and world renowned designer Yana Ngoba while addressing a news conference at the Press Club here.
Yana is the lone designer from Arunachal who has showcased her creations in London Fashion Week and various other international shows. She is also heading for Milan and Paris Fashion Week this September.
The theme for this year’s NEIFW is ‘Khadi movement’ and the sole aim of the show is to support the active weavers and designers of the region to promote their products, said Yana who went on to add that the previous two editions of the fashion extravaganza was a grand success in doing the same as the event saw participation of many weavers from various states including Arunachal Pradesh.
She, however, added that a few northeastern states are yet to participate in the event due to lack of awareness.
“Other country is grossly developed in the field of weaving and designing, however, our state is yet to grow in this profession. In reality people are forgetting the fact that, even weaving is a part of our tradition,” said Yana who opined that Arunachal has a lot of potential and if that is tapped properly, the weaver and designers of the state would go a long in the fashion industry.
She was also of the opining that, to promote the weaving and designing industry in Arunachal; the government must come up with appealing schemes and policies.
“May be the state government does have schemes in this regard, but we do not know whom and which department to approach for the same. As our solitary objective is to promote the weavers and designers, so we are organizing the event on our own expenses,” Yana lamented.
Menty Jamir, a designer from Nagaland asserted that handlooms products from North East India are so vibrant that it can rule any market in the world. She also informed that being part of NEIFW makes her think positive about the fashion industry.
Hibu Ollo, a weaver who currently runs two weaving centers in Ziro valley, said that ‘NEIFW has proven to be a blessing in disguise for her as after participating in the event for two consecutive years she has got all the recognition that she ever wanted.’
Through NEIFW, I got an opportunity to represent my state and showcase my collections at New Delhi and many other parts of the country. NEIFW has given me a platform to be self employed. In fact, it has actually empowered me, said Ollo who was all praises for Yana.
Many other designers and weavers from Karbi Anglong, Nagaland, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh also showcased their designs and spoke during the conference.
Other than Ollo, weavers like Dimonty Basumatary, Uday Dimbeswary and Krishna Sonowal from Assam and many others would be participating in the Fashion week this year.
Designers Menty Jamir (Nagaland), Rohila (Karbi Anglong) along with Dolly Moyong, Nabam Chunkap, Biri Arang and Tasso Lily from Arunachal Pradesh are few of the designers who would showcase their designs at the NEIFW.
As of today there are more than 150 weavers throughout North East who are working with Yana.
