NIFT Graduates Launch Bride from the N‑East to Celebrate Northeast Heritage

Angela Lalramtiami and Akimugha Yeptho, recent graduates of NIFT, have launched Bride from the N‑East, a bridal label that foregrounds the textiles and aesthetics of Mizoram and Nagaland. The founders say the collection began as "our introduction to the bridal segment after graduating in 2025, and it also centers around the place where we both come from — Mizoram and Nagaland," a vision that translates into skirts and jackets where handwoven panels meet the sheen of Mikado satin.

Their bridal debut followed the pair’s 2025 graduation and draws directly on their student work; the designers used their final collections (for which they won institutional awards like Best Design Colle as the springboard for the new label. The launch took shape in early 2026, introducing a capsule aimed at brides who prioritize cultural lineage as much as silhouette. The founders say plainly, "We designed this collection for brides who value roots and traditions."

Craft and motif define the collection. The duo commissioned handwoven fabrics from women weavers in the Northeast, working with traditional Puan and Mekhala cloths and blending them with Mikado satin "to create structured yet fluid forms." Embroidery is likewise local in language and technique: "Motifs were hand embroidered and inspired by bamboo, Himalayan cherry trees and hibiscus," the founders share, and those references were chosen "to make the bride feel rooted and nostalgic."

Silhouette is where heritage meets modern bridal architecture. The founders describe the looks as "modest, strong, structured and flowy, designed to make every bride feel confident and beautiful." Expect fitted bodices with panels of rigid Mikado, skirts that unfurl into handwoven Puan panels, and sleeves or capes embroidered with delicate hibiscus and cherry‑blossom tracery. The pairing of boxy structure and liquid drape is deliberate: it preserves the weight and weave of regional cloth while giving dresses a contemporary bridal line.

Production and process are central to the label’s story. The designers emphasise hands‑on collaboration: "We were involved from the start of the weave to the final handwoven fabric," they explain, underscoring direct engagement with the weaving communities behind Puan and Mekhala. At the core of the collection are those handwoven textiles made by women weavers from the region, a detail that anchors each piece in place and craft.

Styling and future intent remain flexible by design. "Styling is very subjective for every bride, and we are always happy to see new and innovative ways of styling our pieces," the founders say, inviting personal interpretation of modest, structured, and flowing forms. With a debut that stitches regional handweave into contemporary bridal codes, Bride from the N‑East positions Mizoram and Nagaland textiles at the altar of modern wedding dressing — a focused, craft‑forward alternative for brides seeking garments that carry both lineage and contemporary polish.