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For this institute, it all started in the year 2003 when Kheholi T Chophi felt the need to start one where Nagas could not only learn to wear fashionable clothes but also become professional fashion designers–all with proper guidance.
Chophi, the proprietor of fashion center K Creative, had just finished a course in fashion designing from Guwahati then.
Considering the knowledge of design-and-stitch to be a must for women, Kheholi T Chophi, says that the sole idea of opening the institut
e, as envisaged more than a decade ago, was to promote fashion designing. The need was more so especially in a place like Nagaland where only a handful of courses were offered during those days, she says.
During an exclusive interaction with Eastern Mirror, Chophi said that once an individual learned the basics of stitching, self-employment would take place. It would indirectly benefit the economy of the state, she explained.
K. Creative fashion institute is located at the Supermarket in Dimapur. Currently, it has more than 20 students taking up various courses about tailoring, designing, and embroidery-stitching among others.
The faculty and students of the institute are also said to have participated in various events locally.
The proprietor said that the centre also provides free tailoring classes to designing students. Every fashion designer should also be a skilled tailor, she explained. Students taking up such courses are mostly talented, she said, but lamented that because of lack for platforms they fail to expose their talents.
Further, Chophi was concerned that in a state where most individuals were fashionable and demonstrated own taste, ‘If an outsider asks about the place of Naga designers in the mainstream fashion industry, there would be uncertainty as the state known for fashion has only a handful of people who have made it big in the industry.’
The main issue that Nagaland’s fashion industry appears to be facing at the moment is the lack of support from the people and the state’s government too, she said. She spoke about two aspiring designers Lomi K Swu and Inakali who are said to be in the process of coming up with their own labels.
The two friends who completed their fashion designing course from Guwahati and currently a faculty at K. Creative is struggling to really make it big in their account. They say they are working as a teaching faculty ‘not because they love to but because they are waiting to be financially secure’.
‘As faculty we come across a lot of creative students but the misconception about this profession and the lack of support they receive disappoints them to continue with their profession accounts,’ was the statement.
The number of established designers is so low because the industry is still unorganized and the misconception of people about the profession and also lack of support defeats the dreams of many talented youngsters.
The Nagas have not really realised the importance of the fashion industry and because of which there is no support. The state is no less than any other countries growing in various other professions, including music, which is already a stated industry in the state. Likewise, the state government needs to invest in the fashion industry which can give wings to creative minds.
‘Designers continue to manage through small home stores, selling in person to friends and their friends etc,’ a local designer who is striving to make it big also said. ‘When we go out of the state we get inspired to remain in the industry but when we are here in our own state we are discouraged, shares another designer.’
There are individuals who are seeking a place in this profession through shows. There are designers who network among their circles but a great deal of this profession goes without much appreciation. Nagaland still has a long way to go to build a fashion scene and create a niche.
Such local institutes and talented individuals go unnoticed while market concepts are rapidly moving to define talent and economics.
Every aspiring designer who wishes to become somebody one day remains overshadowed by the overgrowing influence from the outside labels.
Sadly international labels / brands have captured the local fashion market which has the growing number of fashion designers in the state worried.
EMN