Indigenous Lepcha fashion show-cum-exhibition to be held at Kalimpong and Gangtok

A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BY LEPCHA YOUTH FROM SIKKIM AND WEST BENGAL
GANGTOK, 21 Aug: Lepcha youth from Sikkim and West Bengal have come together to organize AN “Indigenous Lepcha Fashion Show-cum-Exhibition” at Kalimpong and Gangtok. To organize the event in a grand manner, a joint action committee has also been formed with members from Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association and Kalimpong-based Lepcha Youth Association of West Bengal.
Addressing a press conference today, the JAC convener for the event, Tshering Wangchuk Lepcha mentioned that for the first time Lepcha youth from Sikkim and West Bengal have come together to organize such an event. He informed that there will be fashion shows and exhibition of manuscripts, artifacts, Lepcha cuisine, attire and other items related to Lepcha community. The event will be held in two different phases; the first phase in Kalimpong and the final phase in Gangtok, he added.
Mr Lepcha informed that in the first phase, there will be fashion show and exhibition in Kalimpong on 08 September for which people from rural areas have been especially requested to exhibit manuscripts, artifacts, wild edibles and attire. He informed that the selected designs in the fashion show from the first phase will be shortlisted for the Grand Finale at Gangtok on 10 November, where the venue will also host the same exhibition side by side.
At Kalimpong the event will be held at Kumdini Homes School and at Gangtok, the organizers are trying to get Mannan Bhawan to host this event.
The grand finale will also have a musical show by Lepcha bands from Kalimpong and Sikkim.
“We Lepchas being the indigenous tribe of Sikkim, want more Lepcha people to participate in the event and showcase the rich cultural and traditional items of the community”, said JAC coordinator, Phurbu Doma Lepcha. She mentioned that the event has also been trying to create cultural awareness among the Lepcha youth and other communities as well. “We do not like to call ourselves a vanishing tribe”, she added.
Ms Lepcha informed that the aim of the fashion show was also to come up with new designs in Lepcha attire, which would be comfortable to wear. She informed that people have been requested to bring the native ancient fabrics.
The fashion show will have ancient and contemporary designs and some Lepcha fashion designers have started working on designing Lepcha attires, which is not time consuming and is comfortable, she informed.
It is informed that they have been getting positive and encouraging response from those in the rural areas on the concept of the event who have assured to provide full support for the success of the event.
It is further informed that buyers have been invited to the event in the hope that some items could be marketed in other states. The committee has been approaching corporate houses to support the event and has further urged everyone to come forward to support the event.