All posts filed under: FASHION

Discover Local Fashion

Rootsandleisure-Jay-mizoram

Candid Chat with Jay from Mizoram : 19-Year-Old Whose Rockstar Style and K-Pop Charisma Have Fans Swooning on Social Media

Small-town superstars from the northeast are a force to be reckoned with. Their individuality takes shape through various outlets – be it their fashion sense, art, music, or other forms of expression. It is truly remarkable to witness the interesting remixes that emerge out of limitations and boundaries found in smaller towns and villages, untouched by mainstream influences. While media exposure is now accessible to even the remotest parts of the world, it is refreshing to see how these young generations use this inspiration to create something that is uniquely their own. One such individual is Jay, a 19-year-old college student from Dinthar, a small town in Aizawl. With tens of thousands of followers on Instagram and thousands of fans eagerly anticipating his every post, he is a superstar in his own right. Jay’s charm lies in his boyish yet 80s rockstar look coupled with K-Pop idol cuteness. We first discovered him through a viral reel where he and his friends were filmed hanging out outside an unbothered institute in Aizawl. This feature on him …

Rootsandleisure_Mhiesi Meyase- fashion designer-nagaland

“Weekdays for International Brands, and Weekends for Building My Own Brand” Fashion Designer Mhiesi Meyase from Nagaland Talk Fashion Dreams

Meet Mhiesi, a talented fashion designer from Dimapur whose passion for fashion has led him to turn his childhood dreams into a reality. With a degree in fashion design under his belt, Mhiesi now freelances as a fashion designer during the week, working with various export houses to develop new collections for international brands. On the weekends, he channels his creativity into building his own brand, ‘pfe.’ Growing up, Mhiesi was surrounded by garment-making and fashion inspiration. His earliest memory of fashion was watching his mother sew clothes and weave intricate patterns on her loin loom. “Fashion has always been an important part of my family; almost everyone knows how to sew clothes. I used to wake up early in the morning just to catch the FTV specials and get a backstage glimpse of the designers and models,” he recalls We chat with Mhiesi to talk about his journey – from early fashion memories to challenges he has faced as a young designer, and his most current passion of building his own brand ‘pfe’ R&L: …

Rootsandleisure_Vareyar Rimai

A Fun Chat with 19-Year-Old Vareyar Rimai from Manipur on Personal Style and Music

At R&L, we are always on the lookout for individuals and stories that capture the essence of Northeast India. Recently, we had the pleasure of discovering Vareyar Rimai, a 19-year-old aspiring musician from Ukhrul, Manipur, whose unique sense of fashion piqued our interest. In this fun chat, we delve into Vareyar’s personal style and get to know him better. We also want to take this opportunity to remind our readers that Roots & Leisure is alive! ๐Ÿ™‚ We owe it all to the amazing community we’ve built, which continues to connect us with fascinating people who have stories to share. So stay tuned for more inspiring content and let’s continue to celebrate the authentic Northeast way of life! R&L: Hi Rimai, please introduce yourself Vareyar Rimai: Hi ๐Ÿ‘‹ My name is Vareyar Rimai. I’m 19 years old and an aspiring musician. I currently stay in Ukhrul, Manipur. R&L: and who is your favorite musician from the Northeast? Vareyar Rimai: Northeast has many great musicians. Ruata Renthlei, the guitarist for Avora Records is one of my …

Rootsandleisure_Streetwear-Fashion_Kaito8

“Fashion is about Expressing Myself Without Inhibition” Kaito from Nagaland Shares His Top 5 Winter Outfits for Men

“Fashion is part of the daily air and it changes all the time, with all the events. You can even see the approaching of a revolution in clothes. You can see and feel everything in clothes.” โ€”Diana Vreeland. We chat with Kaito from Nagaland to get some fashion tips for the ongoing cold weather. Not only is his layering game on point, but also his fashion philosophy – which is all about honoring the individual, and making a confident statement through your fashion choices. “I am particularly inclined towards Harajuku fashion and retro vintage styles. I love their appeal of mix-and-match and play with colors. Moreover, Harajuku fashion is a movement against strict societal rules and the pressure to fit the norm.” ~ Kaito from Nagaland. Kaito, 27, from Nagaland Hello Kaito, please introduce yourself. Kaito: Hello, Iโ€™m Kaito. 27 years from Suruhuto, Zunheboto, and based in Kohima. Iโ€™m an engineering grad with MBA currently working with NSRLM (Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission). Your fashion posts are so refreshing and bold! What’s your personal definition …

Rootsandleisure_Mask Fashion_Mekhalamama

Fashion Folks Talk Mask Trends and Shopping Choices in the Times of COVID

Whether we like it or not, face masks are going to be a part of our daily lives for some more time. As we adapt to this new lifestyle which was born as a safety measure for you and your loved ones, many of us saw an opportunity for a fashion trend. So we dug a little deeper into the trend, and we found inspiration from among our community who are not only encouraging people to wear masks but are making the most of it through their style. Scroll down and be inspired…ย  Theyiesinuo Keditsu, 39, Assistant Professor, Kohima “COVID has rendered the Mekhalas I wore to work obsolete as well as most of my wardrobe. I spent the first lockdown literally interchanging between two lounging outfits. While I have always shopped sparingly, this pandemic has made shopping for clothing, makeup & most accessories a futile and an insensitive exercise for me personally..given the grave threat of the virus & the suffering it has unleashed. But with so many local businesses – fashion-centered ones included, …

Rootsandleisure_outfit_idea

Winter Outfit Inspirations To Keep You Warm & Stylish by Lungzeu From Nagaland

With the temperature dropping low, make sure your style keeps up! In the chilly weather, our outfit decisions are mostly dependent on what can keep us warm and not what is stylish. To give a little inspiration on how to do both–stay warm and be stylish–we have Lungzeu of Naga Street Style with us. She curated three uber-chic looks for you to try out this winter. Head to the link in bio or below to know what they are!ย  Look 1: Keny Metha, Kohima. “When it comes to styling my winter outfits, I like to stick to my own aesthetics which is mostly semi-formals. I’ve recently come to love lavender and lilac colours, and I’m in love with this coat. I try to not use more than two colours, so I chose a brown turtleneck and a brown pleated skirt. When it comes to shoes, I always choose comfort since my job requires me to move around a lot. I styled a comfortable pair of sneakers here.”ย  Look 2: Manihra Krichena, Nagaland “I have been …

rootsandleisure_lentina

This Is How Local Folks Are Beating The Cold Weather In Style!

Itโ€™s almost the season again, of hot cocoa and baked cookies, of the carols and the lights, of warmth and love but most of all for experimenting and layering up! Today we bring to you some of our favorite winter trends from R&L folks from around the world.ย  Lentina Constance from Nagaland is a stylish mother of two, living in France. She loves food, traveling, fashion, and everything in between! For winters, she adores her puff sleeves, knitwear, and dark floral. Here, she is wearing her oversized knitted sweater and flowy black skirt with tights and boots. ย “I appreciate the cozy yet chic approach to cold-weather dressing. Thereโ€™s nothing quite like a new jumper to make you feel the warmth from a motherโ€™s embrace. Knitwear has sartorial superpowers that shouldnโ€™t be overlooked. After all, what else can instantly transform floaty midi dresses and printed skirts into seasonally appropriate attire? or can instantly update your jeans and trainers combination? Summerโ€™s take on the floral dress errs on the side of pale interesting, with white base colour …

Asenla Jamir from Nagaland Chats About Her Fashion Journey and Also Catch Her in the Upcoming Movie โ€œAxoneโ€ by Nicholas Kharghongar

Nagaland has always been a hub for fashion. Whether it’s being prim-and-proper even for our everyday looks or making a statement, we’re always a step ahead in the fashion game. Today, we have Asenla Jamir, who is making waves with her fashion sense. She is a fashion stylist, singer, has done ads and TVs and currently tried her hands in acting with an upcoming movie, Axone! We caught up with this 25-year-old fashionista recently and spoke about her job as a stylist, her graduation fashion project and more. Read our interview with her on our blog.ย  Hi Asenla, glad to have you here. Tell us a bit about yourself.ย  Hello, my name is Asenla Jamir and I am 25-years-old. I am currently based in Dimapur, but I was born and raised in Jorhat, Assam. I love doing a little bit of everything to keep myself going. I am working in the fashion industry as a stylist. I also create music covers as a singer. Recently, I tried my hands on acting in the upcoming Movie, …

rootsandleisure_rishan_shabong

“I Always Knew That I’d Work in The Fashion Industry”โ€” Stylist Rishan Shabong from Shillong, Meghalaya

Many of us have different childhood fantasies and dreams that slowly fade as we grow older. We pick up more practical dreams along the way. However, for Rishan Shabongโ€”a stylist and fashion enthusiast from Shillongโ€”working in the fashion industry has always been the dream. And now, he is setting new standards for men’s style and breaking traditional barriers!ย  Join us as we discuss how he is making waves in the fashion industry as a stylist, dabbling in various other areas of fashion including design, modelling and is also an influencer. Hello Rishan, lovely to have you here. Tell us about yourself! Hey there! My name is Rishan Skhem Shabong, Iโ€™m 25-years-old and I am currently based in Bengaluru. I was born and raised in a beautiful town called Shillong! Since I was a young boy, I have always been the black sheep in the family. I guess my affinity to the creative arts distinguished me from the rest. I have always been an avid follower of fashion and always wanted to be in the fashion …

rootsandleisure_ls-jewellery

Crafting Her Own Future โ€” A Jewellery Maker and Owner of LS Jewellery, Lusano Sophie from Kohima

Stepping away from conventional careers, Lusano from Kohima took up an independent step and started her own venture. She launched her line of accessories, LS Jewellery. Inspired by handmade jewellery making, Lusano began experimenting with pieces, which led her to start her brand.ย  LS Jewellery features “elegant, feminine and minimalist designs that caters to people of varying tastes,” as she puts it. It’s versatile, chic and everything your wardrobe needs right now! Find out more about the story of this young and inspiring entrepreneur as we chat with her.ย  LS Jewellery is handmade and crafted by Lusano herself. Hello Lusano, tell us about yourself and what you’ve been up to recently! My name is Lusano Sophie. I just graduated with Economics Honors from Shillong. Besides my jewellery collection, I love reading and want to start a venture related to books. I’m working on it, so be on the lookout. Tell us about your venture LS Jewellery. What is the story behind this start up? I always loved collecting jewellery although I didn’t really wear them …