This Northeast Designer Takes Inspiration From His Personal Loss

Fashion is a powerful tool for self-expression, social commentary, and challenging societal norms.

- Akshita Prakash

Fashion is a powerful tool for self-expression, social commentary, and challenging societal norms. Mangtinlen Kilong, a designer from Thangkanphai village in Manipur, believes just that, calling fashion not just his passion, but a way to tell the story of his community and their struggles.

Thus was born Nina by Mangsee. Mangtinlen, in the guise of his design, created a tribute to his people in January, naming all those who lost their lives in the conflict that coloured Manipur the past few years.

FASHION FOR A CAUSEWith no proper training and little to no availability of materials, he is using fashion as a greater good: "I wanted to use my talent as a designer to promote my community to the world and use fashion as my voice towards the atrocities."