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| A model walks the ramp at the fashion show in Imphal on Sunday. Telegraph picture |
Imphal, Jan. 6: Arson and strike-weary Imphalites had a refreshing evening today watching top models of the country walk down the ramp here along with local talents at a fashion show that aimed to take the Northeast’s fashion trend to national and international levels.
The event, the first mega fashion parade, was organised by well-known stylist Robert Naorem of Imphal to showcase fusion of fashions of the East and the West .
The event is the first of a series of such extravaganza in the Northeast.
The fashion parade could not have come at a better time as the trouble triggered by alleged molestation of actress Momoco by NSCN (I-M) cadre R.P. Livingstone during a concert in Chandel district last month is yet to calm down.
The valley went up in flames during a four-day strike called by the artistes’ community and backed by citizens’ organisations resulting in the death of a freelance electronic media journalist in police firing.
As trouble is likely to break out any day, chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh will lead a joint political delegation to Delhi on January 16 to apprise the Centre of the situation in Manipur and also seek custody of Livingstone.
The country’s top models, including Ricky Chatterjee, Mithali Rannorey, Priyanka Dewan, Achla Sachdev and Jackie Besterwitch are among nine models from outside the state who took part in the fashion parade. M.S. Shridhar of Bollywood fame choreographed the whole show.
Twenty models of Manipur took part in it. Altogether 29 models displayed fusion of ethnic dresses of Manipur with Indian costumes from five designers. One couple displayed Manipuri bridal and groom’s wear.
“It is a refreshing change as it is coming at a time when the people of Manipur are yet to recover from the trauma of strikes in the wake of the alleged molestation of film actress Momoco. The event gave an opportunity to the people to release their frustration and anger,” Bijaya Pebam, a member of the audience, said.
A.K. Marconi who runs a consultancy firm here agreed. “Such events should be organised more. This will benefit model aspirants and designers of Manipur as they get a platform for learning the art from well-known models of the country,” Marconi said.
For the first time, models from Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore came to the Northeast to walk the ramp.
“The event is to demonstrate to the people of Manipur that fashion can be a career and also an industry. Because of the recent trouble I was worried whether I could hold the event. I am planning more such shows in other parts of the Northeast,” Robert said.
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