Nagaland Fashion Week (NFW) 2026 opened on November 12, with a celebration of fashion, creativity, culture and entrepreneurship, bringing together designers, industry leaders, influencers, artists and fashion enthusiasts.
The opening segment featured an introduction to the 2026 edition by Tsote-o Koza, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and blessings led by Assistant Professor, Trinity Theological College, Rev. Dr. James Swu, officially marking the commencement of the event. The programme also included the launch of vendor activities.
The day witnessed an enthusiastic participation of influencers in the Trailblazer segment, hosted by Imnamoa Ozukum, providing a platform for networking, visibility and creative exchange.
The second segment, hosted by Arenzung, was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister and chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), Abu Metha, as the special guest. Chairman of the Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA), Theja Meru, and former minister of Roads and Bridges and proprietor of Okusa Toyota, Y. Vikheho Swu, also attended the event. In his address, Abu Metha congratulated the Nagaland Designers’ Association (NDA) on its previous editions and efforts to create opportunities for innovators, creators and fashion designers to showcase their talents and pursue careers in the fashion industry. He assured the association of continued government support and acknowledged MIA by Tanishq for collaborating on this year’s edition.
Encouraging young creatives to draw inspiration from their culture and traditions, Metha said Naga talent had the potential to reach the global stage. He also highlighted fashion as an important contributor to Nagaland’s development, urging participants to embrace the message, “The world is our runway.”
Adding to the evening’s glamour, Hangba Chang, winner of I Am Model Search International 2023, took on the role of show parade, bringing his experience and presence to the runway.
The designer showcases emerged as one of the major highlights of the opening day, featuring four collections: Millenium Konyak’s “A Symphony of Styles”, Khushie’s “Legacy Redefined”, Phaoniu M.’s “Blooming Grace” and Naomi Ndang’s “Avian”. The collections reflected diverse creative expressions, blending contemporary fashion, artistic vision and distinctive design perspectives. The evening also featured musical and artistic performances by Zuzen and Ilikivi from MUSIK-A, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
A special runway presentation by MIA by Tanishq, in collaboration with the Nagaland Designers’ Association, was another major highlight, bringing together fashion and jewellery through a dedicated showcase.