 Nagaland’s Bambi Kevichusa was recently honoured at the prestigious 3rd edition of the Aalekh Foundation Women Achievers' Awards held in New Delhi on July 19 last. She was among 20 distinguished women from across India recognised for their pioneering contributions and transformative impact. The renowned Naga fashion designer was specifically recognised for ‘sustainability and style from Northeast India,’ with the foundation highlighting her couture bridal creations and her commitment to sustainable, Naga-rooted design. Through her label ‘Bambi K’ and her concept store Windfall in Dimapur, she champions eco-friendly fashion grounded in cultural identity. Her work has garnered international recognition, having represented Northeast India at events in Istanbul, Paris, Hanoi, and New Delhi, and has been featured in the Horniman Museum, London. Beyond her contributions to fashion, Bambi is also actively involved in environmental initiatives as a volunteer with Team Better Dimapur and is known for her creative pursuits in music. .webp) The Aalekh Foundation, a cultural and social impact organisation dedicated to heritage, sustainability, and women’s empowerment, institutes these annual awards to honour outstanding women from various fields such as the arts, public service, media, law, literature, entrepreneurship, education, and social impact. These awards celebrate women who are not only trailblazers in their respective fields but also catalysts for positive change, demonstrating exceptional courage, leadership, and commitment to shaping a more inclusive and empowered society. The Aalekh Foundation lauded Bambi on their Instagram, stating, “Meet our Woman Achiever—Tirelessly bold, boundlessly creative, and rooted in purpose Bambi is one among the 20 remarkable women being honoured at the Aalekh Foundation Woman Achiever's Award-3rd Edition.” They emphasised her role as a fierce advocate for sustainable fashion, noting that she has redefined style as a medium of conscious living and cultural pride. Her work challenges fast fashion norms and promotes mindful choices by elevating indigenous textiles, ethical processes, and zero-waste design into a bold, contemporary aesthetic. The Foundation remarked that her journey is one of fearless reinvention, where art meets activism, and self-expression meets sustainability, honouring her for the movement she leads with style, soul, and substance. In an interview with The Morung Express, Bambi expressed that receiving the award has been a validation for the work that she does, not so much as a designer but a designer who has embarked on an almost solo journey to show the world how the Naga fabric, weaves, artistic and cultural inheritance can be made into clothes that can be marketed and worn by the modern world.  She shared that it has also personally and professionally validated her belief in her role as a designer to contribute to keeping the planet safe for ‘our children.’ Reflecting on the challenges, Bambi admitted it has been a lonely journey as an artist in many ways, especially in exploring Naga textiles for clothing, even as she added, “And a very expensive journey too.” “This award for me has meant that someone out there has noticed the work that I am doing and is applauding me for it. So while I am humbled by the recognition, I am also inspired by it; inspired to keep going and not giving up on what I believe in,” she stated.Dr Rennie Joyy, Founder, Aalekh Foundation had commented on the awards during the event, stating, “We have continued to spotlight the role of women as carriers of tradition, creators of beauty, and changemakers in both visible and invisible ways. Whether through a loom or a lens, a courtroom or a classroom, women continue to shape the narrative of a more inclusive and resilient India.” Aalekh Foundation honours Nagaland’s Bambi Kevichusa for sustainable fashion | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
