In a world increasingly drawn to sustainability and storytelling, the fashion of the Northeast is emerging as a powerful narrative. With its handwoven textiles, ancestral motifs, and vibrant dyeing techniques, the region’s fashion is no longer confined to festivals or tribal ceremonies and it is stepping onto international ramps, Instagram grids, and urban wardrobes across India.
The Looms of Legacy
For instance, in Manipur’s Imphal Valley, women still sit by backstrap looms weaving phanek and rongmei patterns. These fabrics, once worn exclusively during rites of passage or village festivals, are now being reimagined into jackets, bags, and even sneakers.
At the center of this resurgence is 28-year-old Tara Luwang, a fashion entrepreneur who sources her designs from 16 remote villages. “Every motif on our cloth is a story—of battles, of harvest, of prayer,” she says. Her brand, Thangmei Collective, collaborates with local women and reinvests profits into school scholarships and yarn cooperatives.
Reinvention in the Hills
Not very far away, Nagaland’s Loinloom tradition, once endangered, has seen a revival thanks to young designers like Imnatula Jamir, whose collections have been featured in alternative fashion shows in Goa and Berlin. Using traditional backstrap looms and naturally dyed cotton, Imnatula fuses western cuts with tribal textures.
“Why should culture be stuck in museums?” she asks. “Fashion is living culture. If we wear it, we remember it.”
Muga and Eri – Assam’s Golden Heritage
And of course, Assam’s muga silk and eri threads have long been known for their durability and elegance. But a new wave of designers is using these materials not just for mekhela chadors, but also for minimalist gowns, scarves, and interior décor.
In Guwahati, designer Nabina Das has opened a studio that sells Muga-silk crop tops, Eri linen jumpsuits, and gender-neutral stoles. She works with weaver clusters in Sualkuchi and markets her collection as “luxury with roots.”
Style, Identity, and Resistance
For many, wearing tribal weaves is not just fashion—it’s a political act. Students across Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore often showcase North-Eastern jackets or wrap skirts as statements of identity and defiance against racial stereotypes.
“In a world that often erases us, our threads speak back,” says activist and student Rinlen R Shimray. Social media has further amplified this movement, with hashtags like #WeaveOurPride and #NagaIsNow trending regularly.
So in a Nutshell it’s From Roots to Ramps
Fashion from the Northeast is not just traveling—it’s transforming. It is becoming a living dialogue between heritage and modernity, between village looms and global closets. In each weave lies a story, and the world is finally ready to listen.
