SHILLONG: Meghalaya and other states of the North Eastern region have got a splendid platform to showcase their unique, rich and vibrant fashion and textile designing at ‘The North Eastern Design Festival’ which is currently on at the national capital’s Select Citywalk located at South Delhi’s Saket area.
The festival that runs from Thursday till Sunday is being attended by renowned designers like Agnimitra Paul, Aji Semy, Boney Darang, Charlee Lalthenmawla, Gaurang Shah, Monapali, Meghna Rai Medhi, Melody Runremsangi, Rengma, Rinzing Choden, Plabita Gogoi, Vianney Nongrum, Wede Khape and others, who are going to display their creations during the course of the festival.
The purpose of the event is to create an interaction of ideas, provide an international standard marketing forum and a unique platform to showcase NE India’s textiles. The North East Institute of Fashion Technology is organizing the mega festival comprising of fashion shows, cultural programmes, musical shows and exhibitions of handloom, handicrafts, jute and MSME sector of the North East Region.
The festival is supported by the Union Ministry of Textiles with Ministry of MSME, Ministry of Home Affairs, Handicrafts, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, and in association with Select Citywalk.
The festival will act as a curtain raiser to showcase the talents of designers, performing artists, artisans, craftsmen, weavers coming from different parts of the region. The people of the capital will also get an opportunity to interact with the wonderful talented young visionaries of northeast under one roof and this shall create a bridge of understanding and mutual growth of thought process between the NER and the mainstream.
The four-day event was inaugurated on Thursday by Dr KS Rao, Minister of Textiles, and attended by RPN Singh, Minister of State for Home Affairs in the presence of Pranatee Phukan, Minister of Handloom and Textiles, Government of Assam.
On the inaugural day three fashion shows highlighting handloom, handicrafts ensemble and traditional textiles were featured. The event was also a platform for Delhi’s fashion connoisseurs to get an opportunity to witness the works of colored weaved textiles and crafts of the rich traditional design methodology found in this region.
To add glitz to the event Bollywood starlets Minissha Lamba, Sonal Chauhan and others walked the ramp while bands like Featherhead (Folk/Rock Fusion), MOD (Minute of Decay), Red Light Passengers and Towering Faith Rock Band performed on the occasion.