Fashion Designing Catching The Fancy of Northeast Youngsters

By Peter Alex Todd and Peter Chachei

Guwahati / Kohima, Apr 13 : The fashion industry in India's northeast region is looking up with militancy on the wane. The industry is actualizing its potential, not just in trade and commerce, but also in terms of style.

Mega Miss Northeast Industry Managing Director Abhijit Sinha said: "Being nostalgic, getting back to 8 years from now, I have started the fashion and beauty industry. It has grown in an immense way."

Fashion designing institutes like the NIFT, the Guwahati Institute Fashion Technology, and the J.D Fashion Institute and the MORPH are grooming students in this field.

Students feel that the scope for the fashion industry in northeast India is good. "It seems that in Assam, there is good scope. Competition will be there and development can also take place in Assam," said one student.

Fashion designers from Northeast have made their presence felt across the country.

For example, Atsu Sekhose, a young Naga designer recently showcased his collection at the Wills lifestyle India Fashion Week.

Aien Longchar, another Naga fashion designer trained at the JD Institute of Fashion Technology in Assam is now successfully promoting her brand "Blizz" in Nagaland.

"With peace and harmony returning, the industry is slowly growing. Moreover, a peace talk is being continued and I hope it will bring positive results.

So, only after this, not only fashion industry but also other industries will also flourish," said Longchar. Modeling too is also gaining popularity.

Monikangna Dutta, Esther Jamir, and Cyndy Khojol are a few big names in the world of fashion from northeast.

Recently, Sangeeta Phukon, a model from Jorhat, won the Miss Barak contest in Manipur. Young models of the northeast are even planning to contest in the Miss India competition.

"I feel very happy after winning this contest and want to represent northeast in Femina Miss India," said Sangeeta Phukon, model.

"Ten years back, fashion was not given much importance. But now, I think we can see around people of Nagaland are so fashionable. They are really interested in fashion. They have so much talent in modeling, looks and height, said Chonchibeni, a model from Nagaland

The way things are changing in the northeast, it would not be surprising to see a greater contribution from the region in the years to come.