Akangchila Longchar
Morung Express News
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Nengneithem Hengna, Founder and Managing Director Runway Nagaand[/caption]
Nengneithem Henga is a young entrepreneur with a vision for her community. She established Runway Nagaland in 2013 with a vision to promote handloom and handmade products. Her brand innovates-makes-sells clothing, jewellery, and accessories using eclectic and inspiring designs.
She is also focused on creating sustainable livelihoods through her business with the aim to enhance the well-being of people from low-income communities, and also with the hope to revive and sustain the dying practice of craftsmanship and traditional techniques of weaving and handmade accessories.
This visionary entrepreneur explained, “All of our accessories are handmade with love by women engaged in making handmade and handloom products and we hope to give them an identity, hope for a dignified status, and hope for a better life! With this in mind, she has launched a social media campaign called “Face of Runway Nagaland” where people promote Kinep earrings which means ‘Hope’ mainly to create awareness and give significance to local artisans. The campaign has successfully reached Nagaland, Arunachal, Assam and several other places in the Northeast.
Runway Nagaland also has an accessory line with another homegrown brand PreciousMeLove (PML) called “Goulu” which means treasure. Hengna explained, “For tribal people, jewelleries are a treasure so I named it after that. This small things are what interests and fascinates me- even a small necklace, holds so much value and every piece has a story to tell. Go to the village and listen to the stories from the old women there, every piece will have something fascinating to tell.”
For this young entrepreneur, the journey has been a rough one with many lessons and setbacks. In 2011, she had first opened a store called “Runway” which housed apparels of local designers. Subsequently, she also opened another apparel store with a friend. During this time, the bug to innovate-make-sell local had already caught on with her, so, she decided to quit and start her own brand.
Initially, her work was met with criticisms where some people would not take the brand seriously tagging it as just a hobby. And there even was a point where work and production stopped and she really had no place to turn to. “However, I received good advice to take a break, which I did and traveled all over Northeast states. This not only rejuvenated me but inspired me. I also joined another design house with the sole purpose of learning more. It was a difficult time but which helped me grow and learn more,” she narrated.
And all her resilience and inspiration to create changes around her, she said is because of her parents who have always believed and placed their biggest hope on their daughters and provided them with education, freedom, strength and inspiration. “My late father Haokholet Hengna was a man of Hope who taught me never to give up and whatever I do- to do with heart. My mother Lhingjahat Hengna is an epitome of selfless love and care, who has always been behind the scene but she is the hero. And as their daughter I’m grateful for the gifts they have given me.”
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Sales team with Production Manager Chongpi Haokip.[/caption]
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RN First Alliance with e-commerce
comapny in 2014. (JAYPORE.com)[/caption]
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The famous RN Kinep tassels earring.[/caption]
Runway Nagaland also offers classes on Traditional, Contemporary jewellery making, and Tailoring for women. Her dream is to establish a full-fledged company to work together with local artisans. Her business has stayed small- because of the challenges faced like lack of basic services, inadequate infrastructure, financial credit, marketing problems and several other factors.
Despite the many challenges, she continues to work hard and stay resilient with her unwavering belief that through her innovative business approach, change can happen for the better.