Our correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 18 (EMN): A Naga teenager, who owns the brand ‘Pipo – by Thung Ezung’, put up first handmade jewellery exhibition in Nagaland on the theme Celebrating Craftsmanship in collaboration with Nagaland Handmade Jewellery Brands, on October 18 at Japfὒ Hotel, Kohima.
Thungchibemo Ezung, a class 11 student from Dainty Buds Higher Secondary School, Kohima, has created his own brand in jewellery design.
Speaking to Eastern Mirror, the 18-year-old lad said Pipo brand was established in 2016 and started shipping the products to other countries, including United Kingdom this year.
“The collection that I am exhibiting today (Friday) is ‘Busy Bee’ collection, inspired by how busy I am with social life and also academic life,” he said. “My main vision is to break the barrier of stereotype mindset among the Nagas of what men and women should and should not do.”
Describing himself as a fashion enthusiast, Ezung said he came up with the idea of exhibition as such platforms are rarely given to jewellery designers despite having lots of talented people.
“I organised this exhibition to uplift and promote Naga jewellers and also come together under the banner Naga jewellery,” he said, adding that eight brands exhibited their jewellery product.
When asked if he would organise such exhibition annually, he replied: “As of now, I don’t know if I can make it into annual affair but by looking into the situation and circumstance, we might also come up with another event in collaboration with other brands and other creative events.”
Mercy Tetseo, member of Tetseo Sisters band, speaking at the event said artists are all entrepreneurs and everything is a struggle because “we are trying to make a living.” “In our unity, we have to stand up and do something,” she said.
She said they (sisters) came from a craft background with their dad crafting the first music instrument for them and mom used to weave. They also made their own earrings as there was no jewellery designers back then.
“Branding is very important because you have to succeed by yourselves and not hit and miss,” she advised, adding that “consistency is the most important thing because the brand that you established will see you through, in terms of quality and in terms of how you present yourself and even the concept of your design.”
She also said that one thing Nagas lag behind is “we don’t know how to network.” “But it is not too late; now is the great time for us to learn,” she encouraged adding that “we need to take it forward; we can’t stop here.”
Tetseo further advised the designers not to wait for things to happen but go out and make things happen and create history. “It is not just important to be seen but (for) somebody to remember your product, you need to leave a mark of professionalism which you carry it through,” she said.
Chief guest of the event and project manager of Made in Nagaland-YouthNet, Imtisangla Jamir said: “When it comes to jewellery and Indian women, decorating themselves is not only a customary tradition, but also has a lot of values attached to each and every jewellery piece, and thus the demand for different types of jewellery for different occasions in our country is huge with lots of potential and ever-growing sector in the country for entrepreneurs.”
She stated that culture and tradition, mixed with modern wear, have become a hype outside the state, attracting lots of investors and customers. She also extended invitation to all the entrepreneurs to approach their centre if they need promotion, retail outlet and market linkage.
Jamir encouraged the entrepreneurs, saying ‘the world is open for us and the only thing we need is to step into the door leaving our comfort zone. We need to create and push sensational products for the customers outside our state, so that the consistency of the market is maintained.’
“The biggest challenge we face is the consistency of the product where we fail to meet the demand in terms of quantity and services due to negligence, storage problems and quality packaging,” she said.
Abe Veswuh, a self-taught and self-inspired jewellery designer, also said that she designs different sets and size which can be suitable, affordable and complementing to each different type of new personalities she meets every day. “It needs a lot more passion than ever but I enjoy every bit of it,” she said.
