The team from Woven Threads from Noklak district during the recent meeting with the President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. (Photo Courtesy: Woven Threads)
Dimapur, May 25 (MExN): A delegation of artisans from across Northeast India, including a team from Nagaland’s Noklak district led by design label Woven Threads, met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, sharing their experiences of contributing to the prestigious “At Home” Reception held on January 26, 2026.
During the interaction, the artisans recounted their journey of working on the high-profile Republic Day reception, an initiative undertaken under the aegis of Rashtrapati Bhavan with technical support from the National Institute of Design (NID).
The initiative brought together a meticulously curated showcase of crafts from all eight Northeastern states of India, conceived and executed through collaborative efforts among designers, entrepreneurs, artisans, and weavers from across the region. The project sought to highlight indigenous knowledge systems, traditional craftsmanship and contemporary creative manufacturing practices unique to the Northeast.
The artisans and weavers played a central role in crafting invitation kits for the reception, representing the rich artistic and cultural heritage of the region on one of the country's most prominent national platforms.
In a landmark development, the majority of the 80-member artisan delegation comprised women from remote regions of the Northeast. For many participants, the visit marked their first journey outside their home states, rendering the experience of visiting the national capital and Rashtrapati Bhavan deeply emotional and historically significant.
As part of the Presidential gift representing Nagaland, the team Woven Threads, Noklak presented handcrafted home textiles made from Ehlon-niu fibres, a distinctive blend of stinging nettle and orange wildrhea fibres, including a coordinate of three exquisite pillow covers from their newest collection. The collection was developed with support from ‘The Canvas Home Small Grants’ initiative of Handmade To Market, formerly known as Aid to Artisans.
The initiative was supported by key institutions including the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC), the National Institute of Design, and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), alongside Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Prominent leaders associated with the initiative included Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Jitin Prasada, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Sukanta Majumdar.
