Exploring northeast's rich heritage, through fashion

Yana Ngoba and Raj Singh, the husband-wife designer duo from the northeast, showcased the rich tribal heritage of Arunachal Pradesh through a fashion show in the capital recently.

"Our tribal attire is rich in terms of weaves, colours, designs and patterns. It's a tad unfortunate that no one has attempted a fusion on it before. We are very hopeful that the tribal-western fusion collection shall find many takers in metros as well as international markets," said Yana.

A model dressed in one of the couple's creations (Photo: IANS)

"It's time that our age-old tribal heritage gets the place on world map it truly deserves. This and our forthcoming shows are an endeavour in this direction," she added.

Organised by Yanaraj Desizns, the event saw tribal attire inspired from the interiors of Arunachal. The collection presented the tribal attire with western styles to produce a range that's ethnic yet contemporary. Accessories like headgears and exotic ornaments added to the charm.

The highpoint of the fashion show was dresses made of polythene and plastic waste like packaged water bottles, noodle packets and pan masala sachets, an attempt to promote the message of a clean and green Arunachal.

Also present on the occasion was Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jarbom Gamlin, who is also Yana's brother.

"We express our gratitude to the state government for supporting the cause and especially to the chief minister for his interest in promoting the rich heritage and tourism potential of Arunachal Pradesh. Promotional events like these shall set the stage for increase in tourist traffic and export of our tribal produce," Raj said.

He added that the couple was in the process of finalising participation in Paris Fashion Week next year. - IANS