Dimapur, August 9 (MExN): The Chakhesang apex frontal organisations has censured Indian designer Ritika Mittal for launching her new ‘Mora Collection’ which reportedly uses GI registered Chakhesang textiles.
In a press release on Monday, the Chakhesang Women Welfare Society (CWWS) which is the registered proprietor of the Chakhesang shawls stated that Mittal had gone ahead and launched her collection “without consent and correct accreditation,” in spite of being served a notice and another warning.
As per the release, Mittal was informed to stop using Kuzhami in her credits since Kuzhami refers to 14 Kuzha/Khuzha speaking villages among the Chakhesangs in Nagaland. “She worked only with –Lasumi and Zapami villages, yet refuses to name these two villages and even acknowledge North East Network (NEN), Mora’s facilitating partner,” it said.
The CWWS stated that Mittal also “refused to comply with the Terms & Conditions offered by the Chakhesang apex frontal organisations, and instead challenged the community and invited them to visit her in Punjab. She has even gone to the extent of stating on social media that her project created the spelling of our indigenous word ‘Thebvo.’” She has also used several of our other indigenous words to give identity to her clothing with no permission from the community, it added.
The release stated that Mittal delivered a talk on Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, (WICCI) platform on August 8, condemning indigenous communities protection around their indigenous knowledge, fear, GI tag and went so far as to recommend how the Chakhesang community should open itself to collaboration rather than being possessive. “On this World Indigenous Day, we would like to make a claim that Ritika Mittal has no right to re-define our societal and traditional operations according to her self- interests. Nor does she have the right to represent our Chakhesang community in any local, national or international platform,” the CWWS asserted.
The frontal organisations further cautioned Mora to immediately stop using any of the community’s textiles, traditional designs and motifs, failing which appropriate measures would be taken.
Further, the release took exception to a note that Mittal reportedly wrote on her blog moracollective.org which reads: “Sentiment of 2021: My belief in this concept is even more resilient than before and have in the last 6 years been projected in the extensions of work I have carried out. Mora or I don’t believe in ‘exclusivity’ clause, copyrights, GI tagging, anything for my own self or for Mora. I do not believe in the burden of ownership, possessiveness and protection. I believe in the resilience of accountability, fearless sharing and preservation. I have continued to share designs without fear. I have continued to share ideas and thoughts without fear. Drop ‘exclusively’ and adopt ‘inclusively.’ Give a thought to understanding the roots to create natural preservation.”
It requested the public to be mindful of the unethical practises that has been indulged in the Mora 2021 launch while leaving it to the wisdom of the consumer to either appreciate or condemn such practices. “We the Chakhesang Community hereby declare that Ritika Mittal or any individual representing Mora will not be allowed to enter Phek district,” it added.
