Ziro : The Fashion & Design Council of Arunachal Pradesh (F&DCAP) today successfully conducted the first phase of auditions and registrations for “Apatani’s Next Top Model” at the Hija Youth Association Badminton Hall, Hija Village. The community-based indigenous model platform is being organized under Apatani Fashion Week and the larger vision of Arunachal Fashion Week — The Artisans’ Movement.

The initiative is part of a long-term movement by F&DCAP to build a professional, sustainable, and globally connected indigenous fashion ecosystem in Arunachal Pradesh by creating opportunities not only for designers and artisans, but also for aspiring models, photographers, stylists, makeup artists, content creators, and creative youth from every tribe and community of the state.

According to the organizers, Arunachal Pradesh is rich in indigenous textiles, craftsmanship, weaving traditions, and cultural identity, with every community carrying its own unique artistic heritage. While artisans, weavers, and designers already exist across different tribes, F&DCAP stated that there has long been a lack of organized professional platforms for indigenous youth interested in modelling and the fashion industry.

To address this gap, the council has introduced community-based fashion and model platforms beginning with the Apatani community.

The upcoming Apatani Fashion Week will take place during the Dree Festival celebrations from 1st to 6th July at Hija Village, where local designers, weavers, artisans, and creative entrepreneurs will showcase indigenous fashion, textiles, handloom traditions, and handcrafted works.

As part of the event, Apatani’s Next Top Model will be conducted on 1st and 2nd July alongside designer showcases and runway presentations. The exhibition, networking sessions, artisan interactions, cultural exchanges, and community fashion activities will continue from 3rd to 6th July.

The organizers stated that the platform is directly connected to the larger vision of “Arunachal’s Next Top Model”, an indigenous modelling platform created by F&DCAP under Arunachal Fashion Week to professionally groom, mentor, and promote talents from all communities of Arunachal Pradesh.

Under this structure, selected participants and title holders from different community-based model platforms, including Apatani’s Next Top Model, will eventually come together to represent their communities at Arunachal’s Next Top Model during Arunachal Fashion Week.

F&DCAP stated that Apatani Fashion Week and Apatani’s Next Top Model mark the first phase of a larger statewide Community Fashion Week movement that will gradually expand to other tribes and communities of Arunachal Pradesh.

The initiative includes multiple categories to encourage wider participation and representation, including:

• Miss Apatani’s Next Top Model

• Mr. Apatani’s Next Top Model

• Inclusive Category

• Adaptive Category

The organizers stated that the platform aims to create equal opportunities and proper representation for aspiring talents from different backgrounds and abilities while promoting inclusivity within the fashion and creative industry.

F&DCAP further clarified that the initiative is not limited only to selecting winners. Every registered participant automatically becomes part of the F&DCAP Creative & Models Network, through which aspiring youth will continue receiving opportunities related to fashion shows, castings, workshops, collaborations, mentorship, exhibitions, campaigns, portfolio development, and industry exposure.

Selected participants will also receive professional grooming, runway training, mentorship, and guidance from fashion professionals, designers, choreographers, and creative mentors from Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India, and beyond.

According to the organizers, the movement is not only about fashion, but also about youth empowerment, creativity, identity, economic development, and community growth.

The council emphasized that fashion is often misunderstood as only glamour or beauty pageantry, whereas the fashion industry is deeply connected to business, textiles, tourism, branding, entrepreneurship, employment generation, and cultural preservation.

The organizers stated that the movement also aims to promote indigenous textiles, handloom traditions, cultural tourism, sustainable and ethical fashion, local entrepreneurship, and creative employment opportunities for youths across Arunachal Pradesh. The initiative also encourages greater participation of women and youths in creative entrepreneurship and cultural industries while promoting slow fashion practices rooted in local communities. Celebrating identity, creativity, and indigenous fashion through community-led platforms remains one of the core visions of the movement.

According to F&DCAP, the initiative is driven by a larger vision of creating a globally connected indigenous creative industry where local talents, traditions, and craftsmanship from Arunachal Pradesh can eventually reach national and international platforms.

The organizers further added that many young people today possess immense creativity and potential but often lack proper direction, opportunities, mentorship, and exposure. Through fashion, creativity, and community participation, the council hopes to create positive platforms that encourage confidence, discipline, self-expression, and purpose among youths.

The organizers also announced that the upcoming second phase of auditions will specifically focus on reaching out to youths from rehabilitation centres and vulnerable backgrounds, with the aim of using fashion, creativity, and mentorship as tools for confidence-building, healing, self-expression, and positive transformation.

Speaking on the initiative, Founder and Chairperson of Arunachal Fashion Week and Northeast India Fashion Week, Yana Ngoba Chakpu, stated:

“If we truly want to build a proper fashion industry in Arunachal Pradesh, we must first create the ecosystem ourselves. Every community in Arunachal already has beautiful textiles, artisans, weavers, designers, and unique cultural identities. Now it is time to also create platforms for our youths who are passionate about modelling, fashion, creativity, and the creative industry.

This movement is not only about fashion shows. It is about creating opportunities, representation, confidence, exposure, and long-term growth for indigenous creative youths of Arunachal Pradesh.

Today, many young people believe that success is limited only to a few professions. But the creative industry also has immense potential economically and professionally. Fashion, design, textiles, media, and creative entrepreneurship can create employment, businesses, and global opportunities for our youths if properly supported and organized.”

She further added:

“We also want to reach youths who may be struggling in life, including those in rehabilitation centres. Many of them are creative and talented but lack direction and opportunities. Through this movement, we want to encourage them to believe in themselves and become part of something positive, creative, and meaningful.”

Arunachal Fashion Week Chief Operating Officer, Meena Noshi, said:

“We want this platform to become a long-term movement where aspiring youth can professionally enter the fashion and creative industry. Even if participants are not selected as winners, they remain connected to the F&DCAP network and future opportunities. The vision is collective growth for the creative ecosystem of Arunachal Pradesh with a global outlook.”

Today’s audition panel included:

• Yana Ngoba Chakpu — Founder & Chairperson, Arunachal Fashion Week and Northeast India Fashion Week

• Taba Tapang — Arunachal’s Next Top Model 2026 Title Holder & Mentor

• Tana Ashwin — Chief Operating Officer, Community Fashion Week & Creative Mentor

• Bullo Tajung — Community Youth Coordinator & Mentor

• Hibu Ollo — Fashion Designer & Social Worker

• Taro Aku — Organising Committee, Women’s Wing Cultural Secretary (Apatani Fashion Week)

• Pura Tabiyo — Organising Committee, Cultural Secretary (Apatani Fashion Week)

• Kago Tagang — Organising Committee, Assistant Cultural Secretary (Apatani Fashion Week)

• Gianga Ramching Mara — CEO, Tagin Fashion Week & Mentor

• Isha Sindik — COO, Tagin Fashion Week & Mentor

The organizers expressed hope that the initiative would inspire greater participation from indigenous youth while strengthening Arunachal Pradesh’s indigenous creative economy through fashion, textiles, artisanship, entrepreneurship, and cultural innovation.

F&DCAP stated that the movement is envisioned as a long-term indigenous creative platform that will continue expanding across communities of Arunachal Pradesh with a global vision rooted in local identity.

Registrations for models, designers, artisans, and creative participants are currently ongoing.