Robert Naorem and Parvathy Omanakuttan

Imphal, Dec. 1: Sixteen top models will sashay down the ramp at Imphal Fashion Extravaganza on January 11 to promote the unique weaves of the state.

Imphal’s Robert Naorem, a well-known face in India’s fashion circuit, will bring together top models, including former beauty queen Parvathy Omanakuttan and two other models from Brazil — Mercela Cura and Snizhana — who are creating waves in India and abroad.

“Nearly 36 top models of the country wanted to be a part of the Imphal fashion extravaganza. But I could not afford to bring them all here. So I selected only 16 of them,” Naorem said.

Naorem said Parvathy expressed her desire to participate in the fashion show.

“Parvathy is aware of the issues in the Northeast and is very keen to come down to Imphal and set the ramp on fire,” he added.

This will be the second edition of Manipur Fashion Extravaganza and will be held at the 1 Manipur Rifles parade ground here.

The first edition was held here on January 6 last year.

The event aims at taking Manipur’s fashion trends to the national and international levels.

“I will use Manipuri fabrics in Indian apparel. We need to popularise our fabric outside the state and accrue benefits from it,” Naorem said.

Local models will share the ramp with the top models from Mumbai, Bangalore and Brazil.

Naorem is also bringing in experts in sound and light management from outside the state.

Rimchong Marum from Chandel district, with a diploma in fashion designing, will design costumes for the parade with indigenous fabrics.

Fashion choreographers M.S. Sreedhar and Nadim Saleem will also be part of the event.

“The event will demonstrate to the people of Manipur that fashion can be a career option and an industry. Our fabrics can be utilised many ways,” Naorem said.

Naorem used Manipuri fabrics in different costumes during a fashion week at Thimpu, which was organised by the ministry of textiles, government of Bhutan, last month.

Naorem said an 18-member official team from Bhutan would be coming to attend the Imphal event.

The Indian embassy in Bhutan has confirmed the team.