Northeast India has a unique style of traditional attire. The traditional attires of Northeast India reflects its rich culture, and unique heritage. The attires of Northeast are not merely fashion but are also woven narratives of history and culture.The following are the traditional attire of Northeast India.
Assam
Mekhela chador is the traditional attire of Assam that represents its rich culture. Mekhela chador is worn by women and is often woven with Muga, Eri, or Pat Silk. The men wear dhoti, kurta and gamusa. Mekhela chador is normally worn by the women as daily wear and also during festivals such as Bihu.
Arunachal Pradesh
There are 26 major types of tribes in Arunachal Pradesh. The traditional dresses of Arunachal Pradesh varies by tribe. The Adi, Monpa, Nyishi and other communities have their own traditional handwoven garments, shawls, and headgear. There are distinct garments worn by the tribes. They wear vibrant, hand woven geometric patterns and very deep colors like black and red .
Nagaland
The traditional dress of Nagaland varies by tribe as the state is home to over 16 tribes but the most iconic garments of Nagaland are the Naga shawl and the skirt known as mekhela. The men pair these shawls with a cylindrical kilt and also wears headgears decorated with hornbill feathers.
Manipur
The women of Manipur wear a wrap around skirt known as Phanek with a Manipuri traditional shawl known as Innaphi. The men wear white dhoti and turban especially on ceremonial occasions.
Meghalaya
Meghalaya is home to three major groups of tribes namely the Khasi Tribe, the Garo Tribe and the Jaintia tribes. The traditional clothing of these tribes consists of unstitched, handwoven garments that vary according to the specific community. The khasi women wear the Jainsem or Dhara, while the Garo women traditionally wear the Dakmanda.
Mizoram
The traditional dress of Mizoram is known as Mizo Thuam. Women of Mizoram wear the iconic attire puanchei skirt. The puan is beautifully woven and is the signature dress for women of Mizoram that also reflects Mizo craftmanship. The men wear Hnamkawr skirt and traditional wrap around cloth.
Tripura
The women of Tripura wear the Rignai with the Risa. The Rignai is the lower garment and the Risa is the upper cloth. The men of Tripura traditionally wear the Rikutu Gamcha.
Sikkim
The Bhutia women in Sikkim wear the Bakhu (kho), while the Nepali and Lepcha communities in Sikkim have their own traditional attire. The Bakhu or kho is the most iconic attire of Sikkim and is widely worn by the women.