Northeast labels are quietly redefining the future of Indian fashion. With its rich cultural tapestry and a long-standing tradition of textile artistry, Northeast India has birthed a generation of labels pushing the envelope. For locals, weaving is far more than a craft. It is an embodiment of ancestry, identity, and communal storytelling. Every textile, every motif, holds memory. Every colour tells a tale.
Today, a bold wave of Northeast labels are translating these heritage-rich textiles into modern wardrobes, merging meticulous handwork with silhouettes that speak to a global fashion language. Here are the homegrown names leading that quiet revolution.
Hannah Khiangte
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Hannah Khiangte, an Aizawl-based designer and mother of one, launched her eponymous label in 2013 with the intent to honour the puan, Mizoram’s intricate handwoven textile, while elevating it into wearable art for contemporary wardrobes. Working directly with women artisans across the state, Khiangte’s pieces are not only shaped by community hands but by the wisdom of generations, creating silhouettes that feel deeply rooted and effortlessly now.
Ngoté
Ngoté, founded in 2019 by NIFT Mumbai graduates Zosangliani and Elizabeth Darsiempui, translates the classic Zo puan into multipurpose vests and bags. Traditional symbols meet chic utilitarian twists. With an Instagram shop as their digital storefront, Ngoté blends authenticity with access.
Kintem
Kintem (meaning “communities” in the Ao-Naga dialect) is the brainchild of Moala Longchar, who transitioned from a PR career to textile work after assisting her mother’s weaving practice. The label collaborates with weavers from across Nagaland, offering fresh interpretations of Naga design that still speak the language of the land.
Ura Maku
Ura Maku, helmed by textile designer Manjushree Saikia, stands out for its philosophy. Fashion is nothing without textiles. After graduating from NIFT in 2016, Saikia immersed herself in craft clusters across India, learning directly from artisans. Her label, a fusion of Assamese “Ura” meaning to fly and “Maku” meaning the weaving shuttle, is rooted in clean tailoring and seasonless silhouettes that celebrate material intelligence.
EAST
EAST by Easternlight Zimik, based in Ukhrul, Manipur, champions the weavers of Northern Manipur. Having worked under the likes of Manish Arora and Gaurav Gupta, Zimik now focuses on transforming occasion-only indigenous textiles into contemporary staples for young dressers. Formal becomes flexible. Festive becomes functional.
Kuka Mizo
Kuka Mizo, designed by Van Chhangte in Aizawl, is both personal and political. Named after the designer’s brother, a specially-abled child, the label is built by mothers who sew from home. It reclaims the Zo puan into genderless silhouettes like kimono jackets and easy shorts. The label is stocked online and at its flagship store in Mizoram.
Together, these Northeast labels are not just amplifying regional identity. They are setting a new standard for how fashion can honour memory, empower communities, and still remain unmistakably modern.
Also read:
Inside a North Eastern content creator’s woodland-inspired wedding
Everything you need to know about the exceptional weaves from India’s north east
