Robert Naorem celebrates North East culture at GICW

Designer Robert Naorem celebrated Manipuri culture with a dazzling men’s and women’s occasion wear collection at Global India Couture Week. Television anchor, model, and activist Strela Thounaojam Luwang closed the show in a dramatic cylindrical skirt which was based on traditional Manipuri garb. 

Potloi was a major focus of Naorem’s collection. The sculptural garment is a cylindrical skirt made of thick fabric and hard bamboo and is traditionally worn my Manipuri brides. Naorem’s glamorous take on the traditional garment, of which there were numerous examples in the collection, showed that it also has merit as a high fashion piece. Menswear in Naorem’s collection included striking red and black ensembles as well as white suits featuring intricate illustrations on the back.
 
Robert Naorem is a fashion designer and makeup artist from Manipur and a long-time promoter of Manipuri culture. Naorem has showcased his designs in Italy and India, according to the brand’s Facebook page, and took part in the Delhi Fashion Club’s Asian Designer Week in 2019.

Global India Couture Week is led by managing director Satyajit Mohanty and director of operations Sidharrth Behera, according to the event’s website. For its fourth season, the fashion week took place in collaboration with Bolo Live, its energy drink partner was Hustle and its mixture partner was Jimmy’s.