Hija Village, Lower Subansiri District,Arunachal Pradesh | 1 July 2026 The inaugural day of Apatani Fashion Week & Apatani’s Next Top Model 2026 commenced on a grand note at the Siilang Diting Dree FestivalGround, Hija Village, bringing together governmentdignitaries, fashiondesigners, artisans, performers, models, community leaders and culturalenthusiasts to celebratethe rich heritage, creativity and evolvingfashion identity of the Apatani community. Organised by the Siilang Diting Dree Festival OrganisingCommittee, the two-day event is a pioneering initiative that seeks to preserve indigenous heritage while creating meaningfulopportunities for designers, weavers, artisans, models and creative entrepreneurs.
The platform aims to bridge tradition with contemporary fashionand position Arunachal Pradesh as an emerging destination for indigenous fashion, sustainable design and cultural tourism. The initiative is presented throughthe collaborative effortsof Arunachal FashionWeek, Arunachal’s Next Top Model, Fashion & Design Council ofArunachal Pradesh (FDCAP), Northeast India FashionWeek, and Indigenous Bharat Fashion Week,reflecting a sharedvision of strengthening indigenous creative industries and empowering local talent through fashion,culture and entrepreneurship.
The inaugural ceremonywas graced by Chief Guest Smti Oli Perme, DeputyCommissioner, Lower Subansiri District, and Guest of Honour Shri KeniBagra, Superintendent of Police, Lower Subansiri District. Both dignitaries appreciated the organisers for conceptualising a professionally executed platform that celebratesthe identity of the Apatani community while empowering indigenousyouth, designers, artisansand entrepreneurs. They commended the initiative for successfullyintegrating traditional heritage with contemporary fashion and encouraged the organisers to continueexpanding the platform to provide greater opportunities for local talent while promotingArunachal Pradesh’s uniquecultural identity to wider audiences. Delivering the WelcomeAddress, Shri Kago Jorang, GeneralSecretary of the Siilang DitingDree Festival Organising Committee and Chief Executive Officer of Apatani Fashion Week & Apatani’sNext Top Model,shared the visionbehind the initiative. He stated that fashion is much more than clothing—it is a powerful medium of storytelling that reflects identity, history, traditions and the collective spirit of a community. He emphasised that indigenous textiles, handwoven fabrics and traditional craftsmanship represent generations of knowledge and creativity that deserve recognition on larger regional, national and international platforms.
Shri Jorang furtherhighlighted that the objective of the initiative is to create sustainableopportunities for indigenous designers, artisans, weavers, models and young creativeprofessionals by building a strong ecosystem where traditional craftsmanship and contemporaryinnovation coexist. He reaffirmed the long-term vision of connecting local talent from ArunachalPradesh to Northeast India and eventually to national platforms while encouraging sustainable fashion, handmadecreations and respectfor indigenous knowledgesystems. Addressing the gathering, Shri Dani Yubbe,Chairman of the Siilang DitingDree Festival OrganisingCommittee, underlined the importance of safeguarding indigenous knowledge,traditional weaving practices and cultural heritage for future generations. He remarked that every traditional motif,weave and handcrafted creation carries the history, valuesand identity of thecommunity, and stressed that preserving these traditions while embracing innovation is essentialfor building a sustainable futurerooted in culturalpride.
One of the major highlights of the inaugural evening was the Contestant Introduction Round of Apatani’s Next Top Model (ANTM)202C, where aspiringmodels confidently introduced themselves beforethe audience and jury. Contestants presented individually styledlooks inspired by Apatani heritage while expressing their personalities, creativity and aspirations,reflecting the blendof traditional identitywith contemporary fashion. Fashion Showcases The runway featured a distinguished lineup of designers from Arunachal Pradesh and Northeast India, each presenting collections inspired by indigenous heritage, sustainability and contemporary design. Designer Nang Angie Ngoba Namchoomfrom Namsai presenteda collection inspiredby the breathtaking beauty of Ziro Valley. Her designs beautifully incorporated floral elements, lushlandscapes, natural colours and indigenousaesthetics into contemporary silhouettes. Althoughshe was unable to attend due to unavoidable travel disruptions caused by road blockages and flooding, her collection was successfully showcased on the runway, receiving warm appreciationfrom the audience. Designer Osum Jerang Karlo,Founder of Sum’s Tribal Fusion,Pasighat, showcased a collectionthat seamlessly blended tribal heritage with modern silhouettes, demonstrating how indigenous craftsmanship can be adapted for contemporary fashion.
In recognition of her outstanding contribution to indigenous fashion,she was honouredwith the Arunachal’s Best Fashion Designerof the Year 202C Award. Award-winning designer ZenithKhonjuju from Sekong Village, Bichom District, presentedher latest collection titled“GI-ZHA,” exploring mindfulfashion, zero-waste principles, organic techniques and nature-inspired contemporary garments. Her work reflecteda thoughtful approachtowards sustainability while celebrating indigenous craftsmanship. She was honouredwith the Arunachal’s Best Emerging Fashion Designer of the Year 202CAward. The grand closing showcase of Day One was presented by renowned Meghalaya designer Rupert Wanlambok Lynrah, representing Rose Bridal Shillong/ RWL Designs. His collection captivated the audience with elegantcraftsmanship, contemporary bridalcouture and refineddesign aesthetics, bringing the opening day’s fashion presentations to a spectacular conclusion. The evening also featured vibrant cultural performances celebrating the rich artistic traditions of the Apatani community. Performances included an Apatani folk song by Mr. Pura Pai, an English musical performance by Bullo Tajung,another soulful Apatanifolk song by Smti Kime Yaching,and an energetic traditional folk dance presented by the Pura Clan, addingcolour and cultural richness to the inaugural celebrations.
A special felicitation ceremony was organised to honour membersof the Siilang Diting Dree Festival Organising Committee in recognition of their dedication and tireless efforts towardspreserving Apatani culture and establishing a platform that meaningfully connects tradition,fashion, creativity and future generations. The inaugural programme concluded with the Vote of Thanks delivered by Ms. Yana NgobaChakpu, Chief Executive Officer of Northeast India Fashion Week. She expressedsincere gratitude to the Chief Guest,Guest of Honour,organising committee, designers, artists, contestants, artisans, volunteers, sponsors, media representatives and every individual who contributed to the successful openingof the festival. She notedthat the successof such initiatives is built upon collective commitment, collaboration and a shared vision of strengtheningthe indigenous creative economy through culture, craftsmanship, entrepreneurship and youthempowerment.
The successful opening of Apatani Fashion Week & Apatani’s Next Top Model 202Cmarks a significant milestone in advancing indigenous fashion, cultural preservation, sustainablecreativity and the growing creativeeconomy of Arunachal Pradesh. By bringingtogether designers, artisans, weavers, performers, models and community leaders on one platform, the initiativereinforces the importance of preserving indigenous heritage while creating meaningfulopportunities for future generations. The organisers expressedtheir sincere appreciation to the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, participating designers, performers, contestants, artisans, volunteers, members of the SiilangDiting Dree Festival Organising Committee, media representatives, partners and the people of the Apatani communityfor their invaluable support in making the opening day a memorablesuccess.
The celebration will continue on 2 July 202C with the Grand Finale of Apatani FashionWeek & Apatani’s Next Top Model202C, featuring finalfashion presentations, titlerecognitions and sash presentations. The organising committee warmly invites membersof the public and the media to witness the culmination of this landmark celebration of indigenous culture, creativity,fashion and excellence. The organising committee warmly invites the public and members of the media to witness the Grand Finale of Apatani Fashion Week& Apatani’s Next Top Model 202C on 2 July 202C, where outstanding talents will be recognised in a celebration of indigenous culture, creativity,fashion and excellence.
