As an alumnus from the reputed National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, Imcha Imchen has pretty well earned his place and has, by now, captivated quite a crowd in the country. He made his mark in the Fashion World as the First Naga Designer to participate in the Lakme Fashion Week, which they call ‘India ’s most prestigious trade event’.
Drawing inspiration from the simplicity and beauty of his hometown, his tribal roots have along the way blended his creative skills to something more than mere entertainment. He launched his label in 2008, a year after he got his degree from NID and made his debut as one of the Gen Next Designers at the Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai.
By September 2009, he was ‘Emerging Designer’ and finally worked his way up to becoming an ‘Established Designer” and is eager to participate and showcase fabrics woven from Nagaland in another season come September.
But every success story has a beginning even as he confesses of passing through his own share of ‘confused moments’ trying to decide which road to take on. But having grown up with a passion for the creative art, he decided that designing fashion was what he wanted to do.
However, prior to his rendezvous with fashion, he was in Bangalore pursuing a course in Multimedia. He believes his initial interest in ‘Graphic Designing’ had further fuelled the romance that he was to eventually have with the world of fashion.
On the other hand, he has always been taken in by the rich Naga culture and tradition that they are always incorporated in his philosophy. He says that his first inspiration circled around the essence of the whole Naga culture.
Subsequently, he also did a collection inspired by New York based Naga Musician and Songwriter Senti Toy’s song “How many stories do you read on my face”. “I took it my way on parallel lines,” he says while expressing that he was inspired by the music running parallel with fashion per se.
The accomplished designer, who is also an avid traveller, sometimes finds inspiration from the places he goes to and makes particular mention of travelling around villages.
Imcha, who recently came home for a break, thinks that there are ‘a lot of things happening around here’ in terms of fashion. And although he feels that we mostly take fashion as entertainment, which he admits is also part of the industry, he is optimistic that it is a start towards taking fashion to a higher level.
He goes on to explain, “I go to the markets and see people with cool hairdos and the whole mixed culture” while citing the Korean influence as an example…’Certain people would have problem with these kids’, he says but “I don’t see any negativity towards that…those could be fashion”.
For him, it is okay to wear something Indian even when the Naga society has this aversion for their clothing for reasons of their own. Why, wearing a sweat shirt is also borrowed from some place else, he says.
As for the beauty pageant in Nagaland, he opines that “every season you see evolvement and growth” but expresses that apart from the commercialisation aspect, he finds it important to look at the personality development part… ‘Probably should have the young ones incorporated, not only in the show but the management as well,’ he says.
“The whole thought process is more important than the title,” he further emphasises even as he feels that it a necessity to train and groom them to become more than the person contesting in the show. In the long run, it would also help them in their quest for fashion, says Imcha.
Nonetheless, he finds the growth of fashion in Nagaland promising and especially showing keen interest in the handloom and handicraft sector, he strongly feels that these are our strengths. Towards this end, Imcha also voices belief that we can go a long way if these are given proper attention.
While terming the present age an ‘interesting era’, he however said that perhaps it would be even more appealing to have a ‘good mindset’. He confides that he does not allow setbacks or get carried away by what people would think or say when asked about how challenging it is to be in his shoes. “In any profession, there is so much competition”, he says…“sometimes people say it is a little superficial but I think it’s important to have a good mindset”, he pronounces.
A man of many talents, he is also professionally trained in classical piano and folk music but confesses that ‘sometimes you lose interest because you are engrossed in your profession’.
These days, this now well-known Naga designer gets projects from all over but he states his keenness on coming back to Nagaland someday to do ‘something worthwhile’.
The Ahmedabad based Designer from Mongchem Village received his early education from St. Francis De Sales School, Medziphema and went on to Science College before joining St. Joseph’s College in Bangalore.
However, if there is one thing he has carried along even as he set out to conquer the fashion stage it is his tribal roots that so deeply influence his creative mind. The Naga culture and tradition is truly alive in the hands of such wonderful talents.
Drawing inspiration from the simplicity and beauty of his hometown, his tribal roots have along the way blended his creative skills to something more than mere entertainment. He launched his label in 2008, a year after he got his degree from NID and made his debut as one of the Gen Next Designers at the Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai.
By September 2009, he was ‘Emerging Designer’ and finally worked his way up to becoming an ‘Established Designer” and is eager to participate and showcase fabrics woven from Nagaland in another season come September.
But every success story has a beginning even as he confesses of passing through his own share of ‘confused moments’ trying to decide which road to take on. But having grown up with a passion for the creative art, he decided that designing fashion was what he wanted to do.
However, prior to his rendezvous with fashion, he was in Bangalore pursuing a course in Multimedia. He believes his initial interest in ‘Graphic Designing’ had further fuelled the romance that he was to eventually have with the world of fashion.
On the other hand, he has always been taken in by the rich Naga culture and tradition that they are always incorporated in his philosophy. He says that his first inspiration circled around the essence of the whole Naga culture.
Subsequently, he also did a collection inspired by New York based Naga Musician and Songwriter Senti Toy’s song “How many stories do you read on my face”. “I took it my way on parallel lines,” he says while expressing that he was inspired by the music running parallel with fashion per se.
The accomplished designer, who is also an avid traveller, sometimes finds inspiration from the places he goes to and makes particular mention of travelling around villages.
Imcha, who recently came home for a break, thinks that there are ‘a lot of things happening around here’ in terms of fashion. And although he feels that we mostly take fashion as entertainment, which he admits is also part of the industry, he is optimistic that it is a start towards taking fashion to a higher level.
He goes on to explain, “I go to the markets and see people with cool hairdos and the whole mixed culture” while citing the Korean influence as an example…’Certain people would have problem with these kids’, he says but “I don’t see any negativity towards that…those could be fashion”.
For him, it is okay to wear something Indian even when the Naga society has this aversion for their clothing for reasons of their own. Why, wearing a sweat shirt is also borrowed from some place else, he says.
As for the beauty pageant in Nagaland, he opines that “every season you see evolvement and growth” but expresses that apart from the commercialisation aspect, he finds it important to look at the personality development part… ‘Probably should have the young ones incorporated, not only in the show but the management as well,’ he says.
“The whole thought process is more important than the title,” he further emphasises even as he feels that it a necessity to train and groom them to become more than the person contesting in the show. In the long run, it would also help them in their quest for fashion, says Imcha.
Nonetheless, he finds the growth of fashion in Nagaland promising and especially showing keen interest in the handloom and handicraft sector, he strongly feels that these are our strengths. Towards this end, Imcha also voices belief that we can go a long way if these are given proper attention.
While terming the present age an ‘interesting era’, he however said that perhaps it would be even more appealing to have a ‘good mindset’. He confides that he does not allow setbacks or get carried away by what people would think or say when asked about how challenging it is to be in his shoes. “In any profession, there is so much competition”, he says…“sometimes people say it is a little superficial but I think it’s important to have a good mindset”, he pronounces.
A man of many talents, he is also professionally trained in classical piano and folk music but confesses that ‘sometimes you lose interest because you are engrossed in your profession’.
These days, this now well-known Naga designer gets projects from all over but he states his keenness on coming back to Nagaland someday to do ‘something worthwhile’.
The Ahmedabad based Designer from Mongchem Village received his early education from St. Francis De Sales School, Medziphema and went on to Science College before joining St. Joseph’s College in Bangalore.
However, if there is one thing he has carried along even as he set out to conquer the fashion stage it is his tribal roots that so deeply influence his creative mind. The Naga culture and tradition is truly alive in the hands of such wonderful talents.
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