Arunachal Pradesh to host North East India Fashion Week

New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) The second edition of North East India Fashion Week (NEIFW), which gives weavers and designers from the northeast region a platform to showcase their creations, will be held in Itanagar from August 19 onwards.

A NEIFW Collection boutique will also be setup in London later this year.

To promote the gala, which will conclude on August 21, a fashion event was held here on Thursday.

Designer Yana Ngoba Chakpu, also the Chief Operating Officer of NEIFW, told IANS: "I am one of the northeast designers who works with weavers from all the northeast states. There are very less number of active weavers. So to encourage them and work with them, we met weavers of Meghalaya, Mizoram and other northeast states. For this edition, there are about 25 designers and weavers who are participating."

The participating designers of NEIFW, which has been conceptualised by Affluent Ray of Light, also include two from Bihar and Rajasthan.

"Bansala Mishra is from Bihar. She loves the northeast. She has even used eri and muga silk for her collection. Archana Kabra is from Rajasthan. She has also used muga silk for her creations," said Chakpu, who had presented a collection in collaboration with designer Nabam Aka, also from Arunachal Pradesh, as a part of the London Fashion Week's off-schedule show Fashions Finest last year.

The designer also shared that a NEIFW Collection boutique will be setup in London in September.

"After doing London Fashion Week, the demand for handloom has gone up. I thought that instead of just my products, I should also club it with other designers. So, every designer who gets registered with NEIFW will get a chance to keep their products in the boutique," she said.

Popular actor Adil Hussain, who hails from Assam, is excited to be the brand ambassador of NEIFW.

"Fashion shows like these are importanta the ones that promote these kind of artistic activities. Popular names need to endorse such work so that others think that 'Oh! this is also okay to wear. The designs are also in and it's cool to wear these designs'. Ultimately, the designers and weavers should get financial benefit from the entire exercise. People should come and buy the products," the "Life of Pi" actor told IANS here.

Former Mr. India International contestant Opang Jamir, from Nagaland, was also present in the promotional event that gave a glimpse of the fashion gala. Designer Arita Kashyap (Assam), Rohila Engtipi representing the Karbi weavers; Koombang- TheStorm representing the Mishing Weavers, and designer Rupert Lynrha (Meghalaya) also attended the event.