11-year-old from Meghalaya has designs on fashion

SHILLONG - While other children her age have little idea about what they want to do in life, 11-year-old Shillong-born Naphibanroi Khongstid is already fashioning her fledging career as a designer, even picking up an award.

Naphibanroi was awarded the Youngest Designer Award by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Shillong, and at a fashion show organised here by NIFT, six of her designs were exhibited.

“She is an extraordinary girl and full of talent. She is different from other children and her sketches are very mature for an 11-year-old,” Aurineeta Das, an assistant professor at NIFT, Shillong, said.

Naphibanroi, a student of Class 5 at St Mary’s, a premier girls’ school in the region, is the eldest of three children and her father Malsoma Nongrum is a government servant while mother Bindalin Khongstid is a housewife.

“We are lost for words and we never thought that Naphibanroi would get such an award,” Malsoma said referring to the NIFT award.

“We never expected her to be so talented. I remember how she would ask me to get her a bunch of colour pencils rather than Barbie dolls,” Malsoma said.

However, Malsoma regretted that most of Naphibanroi’s sketches drawn in old school notebooks had been sold as scrap by mistake.

Asked how she began her journey of being a young designer, Naphibanroi told IANS: “I started with drawing cartoons and scenery, but now I like to draw human figures and dresses for them.”

“I wanted to be a scientist, but I hope I will a top fashion designer and create beautiful gowns,” she added.

Naphibanroi’s friend Veneta Lyngdoh Nongbri said: “I can draw a house, but I cannot sketch like her. I am sure she will teach me the art of sketching.”

In fact, it was a well-wisher who noticed Naphibanroi’s drawings and alerted NIFT, Shillong.

“It is her calling and she should get a bigger platform to showcase her talent,” Fashion Society Shillong chairman Aldous Mawlong said.

Rosaline Dhar, Naphibanroi’s class teacher, said: “It is a gift and we never expected a child of her age to start designing dresses. She has created a benchmark for the school.”