Chakhesang women file lawsuit against Trifed and designer Ritu Beri

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 22 (EMN): The Chakhesang Women Welfare Society (CWWS) has filed a lawsuit in the district court, Phek, against Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd. (Trifed) and a renowned designer, Ritu Beri, for “infringement of registered geographical indication” of Chakhesang traditional apparel.

Speaking to Eastern Mirror, the acting executive director of CWWS, Nezelu Nyekha, said that the society had filed the civil suit at the district court on September 9.

Following the suit, the court had summoned the defendants — fashion designer Ritu Beri and Trifed — and had given them a month to file their written statements, she informed.

Earlier in February, the society had condemned the fashion designer for showcasing the Chakhesang traditional shawls at Suraj Kund crafts mela without its permission.

“The show has caused irreparable damage (and) distorted the identity of the traditional shawls which are GI registered, wherein the shawls were woven and designed with deep-rooted meanings since time immemorial,” the society stated in a press statement issued on Tuesday.

“Chakhesang shawls have already been registered under GI and that without due approval and consent from the registered proprietor the said shawls/patterns cannot be used by any individuals/designers/society/government etc.,” it added.

The Chakhesang shawls have been granted the geographical indication (GI) registration and are listed under the category of ‘handicrafts’; other Naga items with GI tag include the ‘raja mircha’ and ‘Naga tree tomato’.

It may be mentioned that it was the CWWS who had filed an application for the GI tag for the Chakhesang shawls.