Taking strong exception to designer Ritika Mittal’s launch of Mora 2021, the Chakhesang Women Welfare Society (CWWS) has stated that despite serving notice and warnings, she has gone ahead with her Mora collection, which uses Chakhesang textile “without consent and correct accreditation.”
CWWS executive director Nezelu Nyekha stated that Ritika was informed to stop using Kuzhami in her credits since Kuzhami referred to 14 Kuzha/Khuzha speaking villages among Chakhesangs in Nagaland. CWWS said she had worked only with two– Lasumi and Zapami villages, but refused to name those two villages and even acknowledge NEN, Mora’s facilitating partner.
It also said that she refused to comply with the terms and conditions offered by the Chakhesang apex frontal organisations, and instead challenged the community and invited them to visit her in Punjab.
CWWS stated that she had even gone to the extent of stating on social media that her project created the spelling of indigenous Chakhesang word “Thebvo”. “She has also used several of our other indigenous words to give identity to her clothing with no permission from the community,” CWWS stated. CWWS affirmed that Ritika had no right to “re-define our societal and traditional operations according to her self- interests.” It further said that she had not right to represent Chakhesang community in any local, national or international platform.
Chakhesang frontal organisations have warned Mora to immediately stop using any of its textiles, traditional designs and motifs, failing which appropriate measures would be taken. Meanwhile, the community declared that Ritika or any individual representing Mora would not be allowed to enter Phek district.