From the vibrant streets of Imphal emerged Akhirun Nesha, a young woman with an ambitious dream to bring modern fashion design to her home state of Manipur, while empowering others through education. Raised in a close-knit community rich in textiles and handloom heritage, Akhirun’s early years were infused with the colours and patterns of her motherland. That early exposure would one day fuel a remarkable journey.
Fresh out of secondary school, Akhirun earned a scholarship to study fashion design at a prestigious institute in a metropolitan city. Far from home and surrounded by global trends, she honed her technical skills—pattern making, garment construction, design theory—and discovered her deep passion for fusing traditional Manipuri motifs with contemporary aesthetics. With each sketch, she envisioned bridging cultural heritage and modern sensibility.
After graduating with honours and working briefly under established designers in India, Akhirun felt a pull back to Manipur. She recognised a gap: despite the region’s rich weaving traditions, local youth had few opportunities to receive formal fashion training or start creative businesses. Driven by purpose, she returned to Imphal and founded her own Fashion Designing & Training Institute.
Starting modestly—teaching in borrowed rooms, with just a handful of sewing machines and students—she faced early challenges: securing a permanent space, sourcing fabrics, and building trust among families unfamiliar with vocational training for creative careers. But Akhirun’s warmth, professionalism, and strong belief in the potential of Manipuri youth gradually earned her credibility.
Within a few years, the institute grew steadily. Akhirun introduced small scholarship programmes for talented but under-resourced students, organised workshops led by guest designers from across India, and arranged exhibitions showcasing apprentices’ works. Importantly, she integrated lessons about traditional Manipuri textiles like phanek, innaphi, and cane-stitch embroidery, encouraging students to reinterpret these in modern silhouettes.
As her institute gained visibility, local businesses and handloom cooperatives began seeking her students’ designs. The collaboration helped local weavers find new markets, and young designers gained real-world experience. Akhirun also launched seasonal fashion events in Imphal, inviting models and media from across Northeast India. These events celebrated local craft and offered a platform for emerging talent.
A major breakthrough came when Akhirun’s own label, inspired by Manipuri motifs, was featured at a fashion showcase in Delhi. The collection combined indigenous textures with urban styles—longline jackets with embroidered yoke panels, sarees in muted natural dyes with contemporary draping, and fusion lehenga sets that balanced tradition and innovation. The collection drew praise from critics and buyers impressed by its authenticity and freshness. Orders followed from boutiques in major Indian cities.
Back in Imphal, the institute blossomed into a hub for creative youth. Akhirun nurtured talent from diverse backgrounds—school dropouts, rural girls, young men seeking careers. Her institute offered courses in fashion illustration, tailoring, sustainable textiles, and even fashion business management. Many graduates began freelancing as trainers, tailors, or launched small labels under micro-financing schemes.
One of her trainees, a young woman from a small village near Imphal, gained recognition for weaving-based jackets and exported them to a brand in the UK. Other alumni featured in exhibitions in Guwahati, Shillong, and even Mumbai. These successes reflected not just individual achievement but Akhirun’s larger impact.
Today, her institute—though still based in Imphal—has trained over five hundred students, many of whom run their own enterprises or work with local cooperatives. The institute also hosts annual Fashion & Craft Fairs, where trainees display collections, invite local artisans, and engage with customers. These fairs have become beloved community events, drawing visitors from across Manipur and Northeast India.
Akhirun’s commitment to sustainability and social inclusion remains central: she emphasises zero waste methods, upcycled fabric innovation, and gives priority to students from marginalised communities. She has also collaborated with NGO programmes to train survivors of trauma and rescue to earn livelihoods through design and tailoring.
Despite significant success, Akhirun continues to learn and expand. Plans are underway to launch a digital design studio, an online store for her label, and a mentorship network connecting her trainees to national fashion incubators. She also speaks at educational institutions, encouraging young people to pursue creative vocations and respect their indigenous roots.
Her journey—from an aspiring student to a respected designer and trainer—is one of vision, resilience, and community building. She exemplifies how fashion can be more than trends—it can preserve culture, create economic opportunity, and uplift communities. In weaving together craft, design, and empowerment, Akhirun Nesha stands as a shining example of how one person’s passion can spark transformation across a region.
Akhirun’s story celebrates creativity intertwined with heritage, education fostering entrepreneurship, and fashion serving as a bridge between tradition and modern expression. As she continues to train new generations and expand her label’s reach, she embodies the spirit of possibility that lies in Manipur—proving that with determination, talent and heart, even small beginnings can become powerful legacies.
