At the upcoming second edition of the North East India Fashion Week (NEIFW) to be held in the Arunachal Pradesh capital. Designer Yana Ngoba Chakpu, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, is hosting the event. NEIFW gives weavers and designers from the region a platform to showcase their creations.

At the event hand-woven fabrics with natural colours, angular designs and floral patterns of the northeast tribes will take centre stage. Apart from that one will get to see creations by weavers of Arunachal Pradesh, Meitei weavers from Manipur, weaver Dimbeswary Kherkatary from Assam, fashion designers Lalthabiki Chawngthu (Mizoram), Ongtiong Kichu (Nagaland) and Rupert W. Lynrah (Meghalaya), among others.

Chakpu said that she is one of the designers who works with weavers from all the northeastern states. There are only few active weavers. So to encourage them and work with them, they met weavers of Meghalaya, Mizoram and other northeast states.

People generally get to see influence from the West at fashion weeks in India. NEIFW, on the other hand, is all about northeast Indian tribal fabrics, said the designer, who also showcased her creations at the London Fashion Week’s off-schedule Fashions Finest show last year.

The models are also from the northeast. There aren’t too many northeast models who have made a mark in the fashion industry nationally. So, they need to encourage them. They aren’t too tall, but modelling isn’t just about height or looks.

Designers need a person who has the right attitude and can carry off the clothes well on the stage. The focus should be on their 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.

The event is all about celebrating the work of weavers and designers from the northeast region. There are also many weavers from different states working on their collections for the event.

The event is being done in association with the Arunachal Pradesh government.