The Naga Weave Design Award 2026 is an open design competition initiated by the Directorate of Industries & Commerce, Government of Nagaland to encourage contemporary innovation in Naga handloom and weaving.

The competition invites weavers, designers, design students, collectives, societies and collaborative groups to develop a distinctive handwoven stole that is rooted in Naga identity, contemporary in design, suitable as an official state gift and commercially viable for production.

The selected designs will have the opportunity to contribute to the creation of a product that can represent Nagaland at state, national and international occasions.

The competition is open to:

• Individual Weavers
• Designers
• Design Students
• Weaver Collectives
• Weaving Societies
• Collaborative Groups

Applicants must belong to the Naga tribes of Nagaland.

Collaborations are welcome. Collaborative entries must register as a single joint entry and name all collaborators.

CONTEMPORARY: A design relevant to today’s world. Participants are encouraged to reinterpret Naga weaving traditions rather than simply replicate an existing traditional textile.

ROOTED IN NAGA IDENTITY: The design should communicate something of Naga identity through its motif, colour, pattern, material or story.

SUITABLE AS AN OFFICIAL STATE GIFT: The final product should be dignified, well-finished, practical and memorable — appropriate for presentation at state, national or international occasions.

COMMERCIALLY VIABLE: The design should have potential for consistent production at a cost appropriate for official procurement

LOOM

• The base fabric must be fully handwoven on a Loin Loom.
• Frame looms, power looms and machine-assisted weaving are not permitted.
• Hand embroidery or natural appliqué may be used, provided the base fabric is fully handwoven on the loin loom

YARN

• Only natural fibres are permitted.
• Cotton and silk are permitted, while Eri silk, Muga silk and other indigenous fibres are strongly encouraged.
• Natural-fibre blends are permitted. Synthetic yarns are not permitted.

DYES

• Natural dyes are strongly preferred.
• Where chemical dyes are used, they must be azo-free, non-toxic and compliant with applicable Indian textile export standards.

Naga weaving traditions are an important part of the cultural and intellectual heritage of the communities that created them.

If a design uses, borrows from or is influenced by the traditional textile heritage of any Naga tribe, the participant will be required to:

• Obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the relevant Tribal Hoho; and
• Clearly identify the source of the traditional influence, including the relevant tribe, cloth, motif or tradition.

Contemporary designs that do not reference a specific tribal tradition do not require an NOC.

Entries using traditional influences without the required NOC or without identifying the source may be disqualified.

An entry may be disqualified for:

• Use of machine, power-loom or non-permitted weaving methods
• Use of synthetic yarn
• Use of banned or non-compliant dyes
• Use of traditional influences without the required NOC
• Failure to identify the source of traditional motifs or influences where applicable
• Submission of incomplete or required documents
• Submission after the prescribed deadline
• Non-compliance with the competition guidelines