Guwahati, Aug 7: What began as a simple midweek ritual at Nagaland University’s School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS), Medziphema Campus, has evolved into a growing movement to celebrate culture, community, and craft.
For the past two years, women faculty, researchers, and staff have been observing “Mekhela Wednesday” — donning traditional mekhela ensembles not just as attire, but as a symbol of solidarity with local weavers and a commitment to preserving indigenous textile heritage.
Far from being a social media trend, Mekhela Wednesday has become a mission-driven initiative on campus. “When we wear mekhelas, we’re more likely to buy them — and by buying, we empower the weavers,” said Prof. J. Longkumer, Associate Dean of Students. “It has become a form of therapy, a reason to come together, and a way to bond.” The participants also stay connected through a WhatsApp group aptly named the SAS Super Girls.
On August 6, the group hosted a mini exhibition-cum-sale on campus to support the_perfect_weaves, a small weaving venture led by six women from Naga United Village in Chümoukedima. The entrepreneurs — two sisters and their four sisters-in-law — had handwoven 50 mekhelas for an exhibition that was abruptly cancelled.
Learning of their situation, the university community rallied to provide them an alternative platform. The result: a vibrant pop-up event that turned the lunch hour into a celebration of resilience, creativity, and sisterhood.
The initiative underscores a deeper message — that traditional garments like the mekhela are not just fashion statements, but carriers of culture, community, and livelihood. By consciously choosing to wear and promote handwoven textiles, the women of Medziphema Campus are quietly championing local artisans and keeping the loom alive.
In the words of one participant: “The mekhela is not just a garment. It is the fabric of our identity — and our connection to one another.”
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