Northeast handlooms had a big night in Delhi. At Delhi Fashion Week, the eighth season of International Reinvent Northeast put the region's weaves on the runway at Bharat Mandapam on 27 August.
What was on the ramp
- Ryndia silk from Meghalaya. Shillong designer Batkyntilin Mawthou showed a collection in ryndia, the Khasi name for eri silk, woven by hand.
- Purbashree. The handloom brand of the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation (NEHHDC) showed eri silk and other Northeast fabrics.
- Garo, Khasi and Jaintia weaves. Indigenous designs from Meghalaya's three main communities appeared throughout the show.
The weavers were not just the supply chain. They were the story.
Why eri is having a moment
Eri silk is soft, warm and matte, more like fine wool than shiny silk. It is often called peace silk, because the moth is usually allowed to leave the cocoon before the silk is spun. That makes it popular with buyers who care about how their clothes are made. Assam and Meghalaya produce most of India's eri.
The bigger picture
The show ran under the theme "Naari Shakti – Weaving Viksit Bharat", or women's power weaving a developed India. It put women weavers and designers at the centre. It was organised by the Delhi Fashion Club with Film Expo India and NEHHDC, with support from the North Eastern Council and the Ministry of DoNER.
More and more young designers from Shillong, Aizawl, Kohima, Imphal and Guwahati are turning their communities' textiles into labels of their own. If you want to start with the classics, read our guide to muga silk.
