NE India fashion gala to present loom power
Source: The Sangai Express / IANS
Itanagar, August 18 2016:
Hand-woven fabrics with
natural colours, angular
designs and floral patterns of
the North East tribes will take
centrestage at the upcoming
second edition of the North
East India Fashion Week
(NEIFW) in the Arunachal
Pradesh capital.
With a total of 22 ramp
shows, the attendees, who
are expected to turn up in
fusion wear at the three-day
gala starting Friday, will get
to see creations by weavers
of Arunachal Pradesh,
Meitei weavers from
Manipur, weaver
Dimbeswary Kherkatary
from Assam, fashion de-
signers Lalthabiki
Chawngthu (Mizoram),
Ongtiong Kichu (Nagaland)
and Rupert W. Lynrah
(Meghalaya), among others.
Designer Yana Ngoba
Chakpu, who hails from
Arunachal Pradesh, is host-
ing the event.
"I am one of the design-
ers who works with
weavers from all the North
Eastern States.
There are
only few active weavers.
So
to encourage them and work
with them, we met weavers
of Meghalaya, Mizoram and
other North East States," Chakpu told IANS.
NEIFW, which gives weavers and designers from the re-
gion a platform to showcase their creations, will also see an
exhibition at the venue -- the Multipurpose Culture Centre -
- in the Arunachal capital.
"People generally get to see influence from the West at
fashion weeks in India.
NEIFW, on the other hand, is all about
North East Indian tribal fabrics," said the designer, who also
showcased her creations at the London Fashion Week's off-
schedule Fashions Finest show last year.
What about the models?
"The models are also from the North East.
There aren't too
many North East models who have made a mark in the fashion
industry Nationally.
So, we need to encourage them.
They
aren't too tall, but modelling isn't just about height or looks.
"We designers need a person who has the right attitude and
can carry off the clothes well on the stage.
The focus should
be on our clothes and not just their faces," Chakpu said.
"Life of Pi" actor Adil Hussain, who hails from Assam,
will be one of the showstoppers at the fashion week, which
will see around 40 participants.
"He is also the brand ambassador of NEIFW.
Former Mr
India International contestant Opang Jamir from Nagaland will
also be a showstopper.
He has choreographed the shows as
well," said the designer.
While the event is all about celebrating the work of weavers
and designers from the North East region, didn't Chakpu think
of pushing the fashion week to some other date considering
the demise of the former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister
Kalikho Pul ?
"There are many weavers from different States and not just
from Arunachal Pradesh.
They had already booked their tick-
ets and worked on their collections.
So, we didn't want to
postpone the event.
"We are doing it in association with the Arunachal Pradesh
Government.
Our Chief Minister, Pema Khandu, is happy
with our work.
They wanted us to postpone the date to help
us in a bigger way, but we can't suddenly change the date.
Our
former CM always wanted us to do well.
I am sure his soul
will be happy too," she said.