North East India is known for an array of interesting things such as the culture, condiments, handicrafts and apparel. So until you can make your trip there, start collecting awesome merch from these exclusive brands based in North East India. From clothing to jewellery, NE pickles and condiments, stationery to home accessories and decor, we bet you're going to love everything that these brands have for you.
With inputs from Shruti Ringe.
Mianzi is a sustainable and eco-friendly brand that makes furniture, lightis and accessories using bamboo. The collection includes baskets, mirrors, hangers, lamps, chairs, stools, shelves and bespoke dining table sets that are sure to elevate the look of your home or kitchen. The designs are unique, minimal yet exude sophistication and luxury. Prices start at INR 790 for home accessories and INR 5,490 for furniture and lamps. Best part? Get them on LBB!
NEst by Arpit Agarwal is a Guwahati-based stationary and lifestyle brand that represents the rich tradition, heritage and cultural symbols of the Northeast through its products. The collection includes notebooks, journals, tote bags, coasters, coffee mugs, utility pouches, decorative plates and frames, art prints, desk calendars and bookmarks. They've also got stunning pieces of jewellery, if that's what you are looking for - earrings, cuff links and lapel pins. Best part? Shop them on LBB too!
Whether it's home furnishing, garden essentials, fashion accessories or gift ideas, Kopou has enough to sort our woes. Best part? All of these are sustainable and handcrafted by the artisans of the Northeastern states. Find home furnishings like lamps, wine bottle holders, baskets, bags, cushion covers and storage boxes as well as garden essentials and fashion accessories like earrings, nack pieces and scarves.
One thing we love about North East is their fashion sense. Easy-breezy and chic, check out Periwinkle Fashion's patch-detail kurtaas, bell-sleeves floral tops, buttoned down skirt, jacket-skirt co-ords, etc. This online brand house everything stylish that is also easy on the pocket. Starting at INR 895, shop for awesome summery kurtis.
Add a rustic touch to your room with some killer handwoven fiber baskets from Asama. All natural and sustainable, Asama products are high on design as well as utility. This online brand from Assam has beautiful fiber trays, baskets, planters, storage boxes, handcrafted by weavers from the North Eastern state. The collection starts at INR 350.
Straight from the tea estates in the East, Brewed Leaf offers artisanal and unique flavours that will refresh your body, mind and soul. Choose from a range of black, floral, green, herbal or white tea - they are all worth trying. The brand sources its tea from the estates of Assam, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Doars and Japan. You can also choose your tea based on region, type or wellness.
Wondering where to get eco-friendly and unique products from the North-East? Log on to giskaa.com and get the best loot delivered to your doorstep. GISKAA, which is an acronym made using the first letters f the capital cities: Guwahati/Gangtok, Imphal/Itanagar, Shillong, Kohima, Agartala and Aizwal, has managed to discover individuals and organisations from across India, that engage in creating beautiful products that define sustainability. From spices to bags to handicrafts to even teas, everything is directly sourced from the NE.
How about a hot cup of exquisite tea straight from the gardens of Assam? Tempted already? Well, then order yours from Chang's Organic Tea right away. The brand offers a wide range of organic teas infused with herbs - think Green Tea, Orthodox Black Tea, Oolong Tea, White Tea and more. They sell seven kinds of teas through their website - green, lemongrass, oolong, orthodox, rosemary, tulsi and blue tea (no caffeine)
An eco-lux sustainable clothing label from Imphal, Manipur, Khumanthem's collection is easy-breezy, classy, sophestiated and yet so casual. The beauty of the outfits lie in the craftsmanship of the weavers. From handwoven cotton gown dresses for women to woven pants for men, this label has stylish outfits for everyone. The colour palatte is subtle and earthy. They are soon launching their website, meanwhile you can order via Instagram. Prices start at INR 1100.
TADI is one of the hidden gems we found online. Based out of Jalukie, a city in Nagaland, this local brand is all about handmade. sustainable and 100% cotton accessories. We couldn't stop admiring the handcrafted shoulder bags with authentic prints. They are woven by rural artisans and are available in beautiful shades. The prices start at INR 600 and you can DM them on Instagram or buy them on Fusion Dimapur, an Insta store that houses NE brands.
I love Tribe Fiction because their clothes are super stylish, very urban yet affordable. Owned by brothers John and Joel Sailo, it's the first urban street wear brand from the Northeast with roots in Aizawl. The clothes are custom designed with imprints and graphics from several walks and ways of life in the Northeast - they can never go out of style. Find hoodies, sweatshirts, tees (watch out for the black Moonsurfer cotton one!), muscle tank tops, cut off tees with quirky, graphic prints on them
It's basically a sustainable online store for local, original produce and handloom weaves and handicrafts native to the region. They source all their products from local farmers and producers as well as NGOs, government and self help groups that support local farmers, weavers and producers. Find a wide range of pickles, artisan chocolates, chutneys, bamboo shoots, spices, different kinds of tea and fermented soyabean.
Jahnabi, earlier known as The Gypsy Tales, also represents the North East through their collection of sarees, dupattas, tops and scarves. There's Mekhla Chador, silk, handloom and tie dye sarees as well as embroidered kurtas and shrugs, with quirky prints on them. Update your jewellery collection with handmade bamboo earrings and neckpieces. They're all organic and handwoven by artisans from Shillong and Assam.
The Seven Sisters Northeast Shop offers organic fresh and dry vegetables, spices, pickles, meat and more from the Northeast. They've got bamboo shoots, water parsley, passion fruit leaves, eggplant, pumpkin leaves, snow peas and bhut jolakia (the hottest chilli in the world!). Also find Northeast meat (smoked chicken, smoked beef and smoked pork) and pickles in different flavours - chicken, pork, mushroom, king chilli, and bamboo shoot.
Based out of Nagaland, Oldcabin does street wear with fun, quirky motifs ranging from art and music to pop culture and Japanese fonts. The label does hoodies, t-shirts and tank tops with fascinating artwork printed or hand-painted on them. All of the artwork is created by Aier (the owner) himself. Prices start at INR 699.
Hailing from Tripura, Pushpita Aheibam has given the good old pickles an organic and North Eastern twist. Her homegrown brand The NE Gourmet By Pushpita's Artisanal is making a buzz in the culinary world with its unique, no-preservative and delicious pickles, speads and infused oils. Try interesting flavours such as bhoot jolokia to bamboo shoot pickle to even meaty and seafood pickles. The prices for NE pickles starts at INR 300. Ditch sugar and use the non-preservative fresh fruit spreads from here.
