Vekuvolo Dozo poses for a photo at the Chiang Mai Design Week 2025, Thailand on December 14.
Chiang Mai, December 14 (MExN): The rich and evolving craft traditions of Nagaland are making a strong international impression at Chiang Mai Design Week 2025, as artisan-entrepreneurs from the state showcase their work on one of Southeast Asia’s most influential design platforms. The participation is facilitated by the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC) through the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and the North Eastern Council (NEC).
Representing Nagaland are artisans whose work reflects the state’s deep-rooted weaving heritage and its contemporary design evolution. Vekuvolo Dozo, an artisan-entrepreneur from Dimapur, is presenting finely woven textiles crafted on traditional loin looms using pure and organic cotton yarn. Having learnt the craft at a young age, she has built a successful independent studio that employs women weavers from the region. Her collection includes traditional Naga shawls as well as modern home ware such as cushions and runners, demonstrating the versatility and relevance of short-width loom textiles in global markets.
Alongside this, Vinoto, a young entrepreneur, is showcasing contemporary craft expressions through his brand “Vion,” which brings together a collective of painters and pottery artisans from Nagaland. His work blends traditional Naga aesthetics with modern artistic interpretations, highlighting the State’s growing presence in design-led craft innovation.
During exchanges with Thai designers, curators, and artisans, strong similarities were observed between Nagaland’s craft traditions and the indigenous Lanna crafts of Northern Thailand. Shared values such as community-based production, handwoven textiles, natural materials, symbolic motifs, and functional design created an immediate cultural resonance, strengthening people-to-people connections between the two regions.
Nagaland’s participation at Chiang Mai Design Week 2025 has generated interest from international audiences, opening pathways for collaboration, cultural exchange, and market engagement. The showcase highlights the state’s position as a region where heritage knowledge and contemporary creativity coexist, reinforcing Northeast India’s growing visibility within global craft and design discourse.
