From Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Dec 2: Renowned traditional handloom weavers and designers Iaishah Rymbai and Lakme Marak were honoured as the “Best Handloom Designers” from Meghalaya at Delhi Fashion Week 2025, during which the International Delhi Fashion Awards (IDFA) was also launched to recognise excellence in fashion and the creative industries.
Iaishah Rymbai, a weaver and entrepreneur from Meghalaya, founded Eri Weave Pvt. Ltd. to revive the traditional craft of Eri silk weaving. Lakme Marak, a renowned Garo handloom weaver and designer, is known for her work with traditional Garo textiles, which she reimagines into contemporary apparel.
The Meghalaya Tourism Grand Showcase, supported by Meghalaya Tourism, opened with a live performance by the SKUBO Band, led by Peter from Garo Hills. This was followed by Garo handloom creations by Lakme Marak and her team—Ernie Ford—and Khasi & Jaintia Eri silk designs by Iaishah Rymbai (Eri Weave), blending traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics.
The event reached its pinnacle with Annu Marbaniang, International Fitness Icon, as the showstopper, captivating the audience with her poise and elegance. Marbaniang, a fitness professional and champion bikini bodybuilder with decades of experience, has inspired countless individuals to pursue a healthy and active lifestyle.
Another major highlight was the International Reinvent Northeast Showcase, which opened with the Bodoland handloom segment presented by Laijou Brahma, featuring authentic Bodo weaves and traditional motifs celebrating Bodoland’s textile heritage.
The grand showcase highlighted India’s cultural heritage, handloom excellence, women-led empowerment, and sustainable fashion under the national theme “Naari Shakti: Weaving Viksit Bharat.” The event was organized in association with the NIFT Foundation for Design Innovation (NFDI) under the Ministry of Textiles, and the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
The full-day celebration brought together leading designers, artisans, weavers, institutions, influencers, and cultural representatives from across India. Eminent dignitaries attended the event, including representatives from Meghalaya Tourism and Harshit Dhingaun, Chairman of Delhi Fashion Club and Founder & Show Director of Delhi Fashion Week. The event also welcomed Kiren Sethi, Sub-Inspector with Delhi Police and widely known as “Lady Singham,” for her remarkable work in women’s safety and self-defence training.
The Delhi Fashion Summit – Season 1 was launched during the event as a knowledge platform focused on sustainable fashion, handloom entrepreneurship, women-led self-employment, and the empowerment of rural and tribal weavers.
Grassroots speakers from Meghalaya, including Iaishah Rymbai, shared inspiring stories on how handloom weaving has empowered women and created livelihoods.
The event also celebrated the long-awaited trademark registration of Delhi Fashion Week. Delhi Fashion Week – Season 2 has been announced for March next year, promising larger showcases, deeper regional collaborations, and stronger support for handloom-driven and sustainable fashion ecosystems across India.
The event was supported by the Tourism Department of Meghalaya and sponsored by VOY Media & Events. Miss Sabrella Marak, Additional Resident Commissioner of Meghalaya House, was also present.
