'Mongken' from Nagaland government enters fashion market

Dimapur, Jan. 29 (EMN): In a move towards patenting and documenting traditional motifs of the Naga people, the Nagaland government has launched 'Mongken', a handholding initiative of the department for Development of Underdeveloped Areas (Duda) in partnership with the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (Trifed), ministry of Tribal Affairs.

A ceremony to launch the brand was conducted on Jan. 28 at New Delhi, a press note informed. Fashion designer Atsu Sekhose and Nagaland minister Chang released the “Mongken” catalogue.

The joint director of the Duda Dr. Anungla Imdong Phom said ‘Mongken’ aims at creating economic opportunities for local designers and skilled artisans from Nagaland with special focus on the underdeveloped regions of the state.

The apparel and garment sector is one of the key areas where the state can benefit immensely, she said. She said Naga shawls have great economic potential in the national and international markets because of their exotic patterns, motifs and colours.

The patterns and motifs reflected in the garments are replicated to retain and preserve the legacy of traditional artisans and weavers from Nagaland, she said.

Fearing that with the advent of online marketing and digital markets, there is a danger of copyright infringement of traditional designs, she said Mongken was created to patent traditional motifs and weave patterns to facilitate and create the right ecosystem.

It may also help promote and preserve traditional knowledge through documentation and events, while also reinforcing the skills of local weavers and youths to create opportunities as skilled weavers in the apparel industry, she said.

Assistance in marketing, through the creation of the Mongken brand, will be the window for local designers to showcase their works, she said.

Further, the official said Mongken will function as a node through which local products can be marketed by participating in festivals and trade expositions organized by the Trifed and similar agencies.

Phom said that the Trifed has shown keen interest in the Mongken brand and has agreed to promote it as a collaborative venture while the apparel and clothing line will be promoted through Tribes India outlets across the country.

Also, minister Chang lauded the efforts of the Duda for the initiative and hoped that the venture would help in preserving the traditional motifs of the Nagas.

Designer Atsu Sekhose described the venture as the right move, saying that a lot of time the Naga textiles are not feasible for the market but Mongken’s initiative to make the motifs and clothes more wearable expands the horizon and takes it to a new level.

On the aspect of marketability, Sekhose said the world is looking into handloom and textiles so “we can definitely do more.”

The garments inspired by six eastern tribes of Nagaland were showcased during the occasion.