India's Rural Women Make It To East India Fashion Show, Exhibiting Their Sewing Skills

Durgarani, a native of Pakyong district, East Sikkim, is one of the beneficiaries of the Usha Silai School. She entered the world of sewing by a straightforward experiment in which she watched instructional YouTube videos to learn how to sew. Her name was then proposed by the village panchayat for a nine-day stitching training programme organised by Usha Silai School.

Lalita Rai, another native of the Agrigaon village in Pakyong district, is another beneficiary of Usha Silai School. She was one of the 25 ladies undergoing the Silai training programme by Usha.

In the nine-days training programme by Usha, these women were provided with important knowledge on choosing appropriate fabric, making drafts, and specialising in cutting to create finished products.

The training programme not only increased the confidence of Durgarani, Lalita Rai and other women, but it also led to the opportunity to take part in the East India Fashion Week in Guwahati, Assam in April 2023. The fashion week was curated by the Northeast India Fashion and Design Council. Usha's sponsorship of East India Fashion Week helped expand the programme's impact in the Northeast region.

Nearly ten out of 25 women chosen from Usha Silai School to work with five well-known designers for producing clothing to be displayed at the East India Fashion Show.

From their homes in the Pakyong district of East Sikkim to the city of Guwahati, the women selected for the East India Fashion Week travelled on an incredible journey. All of them were curious and excited to take in the new learnings and experiences.

With renowned designers participating in East India Fashion Week, the ladies from the Usha Silai School had a fantastic chance to interact with professionals in the field and gain insight into the fashion industry and current trends.

Mary Rupa Tete, Vice President, Usha Silai School Services, said that the idea behind the collaboration was for women to gain the understanding of what fashion is, what design and quality is all about and work closely with the best designers of the country.

The Silai School women found themselves in a whole other universe in terms of design, details, textiles, and presentation amid the lights and camera and were now dedicated and enthusiastic about turning their lives their way with their new skills.