Takum Tajung

MR21144
Weaves of Nagaland woven with cotton on back strap loom with patchwork of Malkha
Spoken for

Moatsu aro, (festival has come)

Tsunglu aro, (rain showers have come)

Mepong aro, (wind has come)

Takum tajung meyiba aro. (Beautiful life has again come)

This song in Ao naga dialect summarises my relationship with Nagaland. I made up this song when I started joining various words I was learning when I spent my first monsoons in Nagaland. 1st of May is the day for Moatsu festival among Ao people of Nagaland. This is the tribe that has given me a name, title and inheritance as adopted daughter. I became their daughter in 2011, That year I became Akalalemla Jamir, tensula (eldest daughter) of the family with two younger brothers!

My naga mother, my Oja, learnt hindi over few months to be able to make a phone call to my birth mother, my maa, and tell her “we should share this daughter!” My mother needed hindi translation of my naga mother’s hindi. Just like that, acting a translator between two mothers, I got into a setting of two mothers in one lifetime!

Aka aro, (Aka, my naga nick name)

Oja aro, (Oja, mother in Ao)

Meimer aro, (Meimer, love in Ao)

Takum tajung meyiba aro. (Beautiful life has again come)

 



Weaves of back strap loom in harmony with a boxed and stripe patchwork of Malkha cotton gives this shawl a dynamic wearable setting. I intentionally chose the construction of bold patchwork with subtle triangle and rhombus motifs woven into the back strap loom weave pattern.

Buyer Empowerments

Intrinsic
Value
Involves backstrap loom weaving of Nagaland contextualised to diverse usability. Also involved in the making is a patchwork construction through natural dyed Malkha.
Creative
Aspect
One of a kind wearable textile with back strap loom weaves of Nagaland. The motifs highlight the triangular geometry representing hills of Nagaland in colours that explore possibilities beyond the conventional usage. The triangle motifs are set next to large bold checks and stripe patchwork.
Helf-Feel
Light to Moderate
Weather/ Mood
Pleasant- okay for summers to nippy evenings
Longevity
Not fragile
Care
Dry Clean only; Needs “Airing” in shadow, not direct sun
State
Ready to wear
Soul
Mill spun mercerised cotton yarn with Azo-free dyeing used for Naga weaves; Natural dyed Malkha cotton
Drape
Modern, playful geometry, drape offers a range from formal dress up to a casual staple.
Concerns
Addressed
Grassroots production.
Weaves made by artisan at home in available time- supporting farming lifestyle. 
In solidarity with backstop loom weaving culture of Nagaland. 
Cultural assimilation.
Well-being Properties
Modern, playful geometry, drape offers a range from formal dress up to a casual staple
Cotton yarn for backstrap loom weaves sourced from Salem, Tamil Nadu.
Weaves made with North East Network, Nagaland.
Solid fabrics by Malkha India.
Stitched by Gurmel Singh, Jalalabad, Punjab.
Beadwork by Param, Bathinda, Punjab.
Disclaimer:
Imperfections in the weaves reflect handmade
Irregularity in the dyes reflect natural process
Innocent spots in the textiles reflect being homemade
A work of nature cannot be sterile and error-free
A choice to still buy what we make is a step
Towards supporting original culture
Of people
Of nature
Of craft

A celebration of humanness.
Mora Collective 2025
designed by: MIDTOAN
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