Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Itanagar: A new community-led modelling platform titled Apatani's Next Top Model has officially launched in Arunachal Pradesh, marking a significant step toward promoting indigenous fashion and creative talent. The inaugural phase of auditions recently took place in Hija village, located in the Lower Subansiri district. Organised by the Fashion and Design Council of Arunachal Pradesh under the Apatani Fashion Week banner, the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between rich local textile traditions and the lack of structured career paths for aspiring professionals in the tribal communities.
Scheduled to coincide with the Dree Festival from July 1 to 6, the Apatani Fashion Week will showcase runway presentations, artisan exhibitions, and networking opportunities. The competition is designed to be highly inclusive, featuring categories for men, women, and individuals with different physical abilities. Beyond the runway, the programme aims to foster entrepreneurship and employment in fields such as photography, styling, tourism, and branding, all while championing sustainable fashion practices.
Yana Ngoba Chakpu, founder and chairperson of the Arunachal Fashion Week, emphasised that while the state is home to exceptional weavers and cultural identities, it requires more organised platforms to support youth interest in the creative sector. As part of a broader statewide Community Fashion Week movement, the council plans to expand these efforts to other tribal communities, with top participants eventually moving on to compete in the Arunachal's Next Top Model state-level event.
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