Machine-made Wangkheiphee imitations pose danger to originals

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 14

Old weavers were felicitated during Wangkheiphee Mantri’s Handloom’s “Sinnai Leichal” organised today evening at Wangkhei Meihoubam Lampak, Imphal East.

Speaking on the occasion, arts and culture minister, L. Jayantakumar said to promote the indigenous clothes of the state proper research is needed. One of the indigenous clothes of Manipur “Wangkhei Phee” has a rare quality but due to lack of marketing knowledge the clothes have hardly reached the global market.

The concerned department needs to research thoroughly on the raw materials needed in creating this exquisite textile to increase productivity, he said. The state is not sound in technology but some advanced state print the textures used in the indigenous clothes by using advance machine, the minister pointed out.

The clothes are imitated and imported back into the state at much lower prices than their original, which is now affecting the market of the genuine ones, he maintained. 

The department concerned should take care and to save the indigenous clothes, necessary action should be taken up as early as possible, Jayenta added.

As a part of the programme some old women weavers were felicitated with mementoes. Later a fashion parade was presented on indigenous dresses manufactured from Wangkheiphee Mantri’s Handloom.

MLA, Heikham Dingo Singh, MLA, Th. Satyabrata Singh also attended the function as guest of honour and president, respectively.