For 8 years, Sakulemla, a 79-year-old from Ungma A Khel, has been selling handmade traditional Ao Naga men’s shawls on the streets of Mokokchung Town. Although she regrets that contemporary fashion has damaged their traditional clothing, she continues to market the genuine items. She remembers how they used to weave the shawls day and night in order to keep the family alive and feed them without electricity by using candles. According to Sakumenla, these shawls were originally made with Naga wool, but as time went on, other kinds of wool were employed, and today crave wool is used in their weaving. While her husband worked as a woodwork maker, she provided for her family through this company.
Even though handloom goods currently rule the market, Sakulemla points out that woven shawls are more costly but still worthwhile. Depending on the quality, her two product categories range in price from ₹3,000 to ₹3,500. She blames the price hike on the growing price of wool. Unfortunately, because of her declining vision, she no longer weaves herself. She does, however, hire four people to carry on the weaving for her company. Three of them used to make the daily trip from the village to Mokokchung Town to sell the shawls, she revealed. Unfortunately, she is by herself today because two of her friends have family obligations.
