(Left) A model walks down the ramp in a gown designed by Rosou Rhi (Right) Another model walks the ramp in a outfit designed by Modovina Mocha and Kavili Kiba during the Fashion Week held at Dimapur in 2010.
Kohima | July 19 : In the year 2008, a group of competent designers formed an association called, ‘Allee- The designers Avenue’ with the sole purpose of promoting the scope of fashion industry in Nagaland. However with the interest and also the increase of designers in the state, the association changed its name to ‘Nagaland Designers Association’ (NDA). Informing on the aims and objectives of the NDA Kavili Kiba, Vice President, NDA said the association aims at reviving and promoting the Naga tradition and textiles in a broad way and hopes to encourage the youth to consider ‘self employment’ through the medium of fashion.
The designer’s platform also aims to give a better platform to every potential designer while also acting as a parental body for designers in Nagaland. To this end the NDA plans to organize workshops and trainings for fashion enthusiasts in the state. Recognizing that the state has ‘fashion potential’, the aims of the NDA includes improving the economic standard of Nagaland through fashion industry while at the same time providing employment opportunities and to help and promote the rural artisan.
Presently the NDA has 20 members with five logistic board members and three impact team members. The NDA is headed by Rosou Rhi as President, Ms Kavili Kiba as Vice President and Ms Modovina Mocha as Secretary. The members are all well trained from various institutions and have been participating in various shows and events in and outside the state. The members have earned various titles for the state viz- Best Designer of the North East during the Magical Thread of the North East 2010, Best designer Nagaland Fashion Week 2010 etc to mention a few.
Speaking about the proposed ban on ‘indecent clothes’ recently by a women organization, Kavili Kiba opined that everyone has the right to wear what he/she wants but a level of decency should be maintained. “Many Nagas don’t know what to wear on what occasion; we usually get it all mixed up like wearing the right outfit for the wrong occasion. The younger generation is becoming too bold to wear just anything that catches their eye which is not accepted by the older generation. Putting a ban on dressing will not help. We cannot live in Kohima and dress like we’re walking the streets of Los Angeles”, she added.
People in the capital can look forward to the Nagaland Designers Association launch show to be held in October under the theme ‘Going Glocal-emanating the indigenous’. The Vice President of the association informed that the NDA is mainly organizing this show to officially launch and introduce itself to the people of Nagaland in a bigger and better way. The show will also introduce many promising talents and also offer a platform to aspiring models. The show will be choreographed by a renowned international choreographer whose name is being kept under wraps now. Kavili Kiba also added that this launch show will be anything but ordinary with ‘red carpet’ international standards and even a dress code will be maintained during the event along with procurement of entry card. The date for the show has not been finalized yet but it will be held at the Heritage. Sixteen Designers will be taking part in the show including Rosou Rhi, Kavili Kiba, Modovina Mocha, Jakjemkala, Tzunapen, Bendageinla and Sentikala. Morung Express will be the media partner for this grand event.
The designer’s platform also aims to give a better platform to every potential designer while also acting as a parental body for designers in Nagaland. To this end the NDA plans to organize workshops and trainings for fashion enthusiasts in the state. Recognizing that the state has ‘fashion potential’, the aims of the NDA includes improving the economic standard of Nagaland through fashion industry while at the same time providing employment opportunities and to help and promote the rural artisan.
Presently the NDA has 20 members with five logistic board members and three impact team members. The NDA is headed by Rosou Rhi as President, Ms Kavili Kiba as Vice President and Ms Modovina Mocha as Secretary. The members are all well trained from various institutions and have been participating in various shows and events in and outside the state. The members have earned various titles for the state viz- Best Designer of the North East during the Magical Thread of the North East 2010, Best designer Nagaland Fashion Week 2010 etc to mention a few.
Speaking about the proposed ban on ‘indecent clothes’ recently by a women organization, Kavili Kiba opined that everyone has the right to wear what he/she wants but a level of decency should be maintained. “Many Nagas don’t know what to wear on what occasion; we usually get it all mixed up like wearing the right outfit for the wrong occasion. The younger generation is becoming too bold to wear just anything that catches their eye which is not accepted by the older generation. Putting a ban on dressing will not help. We cannot live in Kohima and dress like we’re walking the streets of Los Angeles”, she added.
People in the capital can look forward to the Nagaland Designers Association launch show to be held in October under the theme ‘Going Glocal-emanating the indigenous’. The Vice President of the association informed that the NDA is mainly organizing this show to officially launch and introduce itself to the people of Nagaland in a bigger and better way. The show will also introduce many promising talents and also offer a platform to aspiring models. The show will be choreographed by a renowned international choreographer whose name is being kept under wraps now. Kavili Kiba also added that this launch show will be anything but ordinary with ‘red carpet’ international standards and even a dress code will be maintained during the event along with procurement of entry card. The date for the show has not been finalized yet but it will be held at the Heritage. Sixteen Designers will be taking part in the show including Rosou Rhi, Kavili Kiba, Modovina Mocha, Jakjemkala, Tzunapen, Bendageinla and Sentikala. Morung Express will be the media partner for this grand event.
