Shillong, March 31 (NDTV): Most girls her age spend hours dressing their Barbies in different costumes. Eleven-year-old Naphi, however, is a pro. And she has an award to prove it.
Her designs - six of them - were part of a fashion show in Shillong organized by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). So impressed was everyone with her creations that she was given NIFT's Youngest Designer Award. "It's evident she's an incredibly talented child. The kind of sketches she has done are so mature for an 11-year-old. She's what I would call a child prodigy. A gifted child indeed and am looking forward to having her in NIFT," says Banhi Jha, Dean (Academics) NIFT.
The eldest of three children, Napha comes from a simple family in Shillong. Her mother is a home-maker, her father a contractor. Naphi says she's always sketched clothes. One of her seniors in school noticed her drawings and alerted NIFT to check out what is clearly a unique gift. While other kids may waffle a bit when asked what they want to be when they grow up, Naphi looks you straight in the eye, as she answers, firmly and clearly, "I liked to sketch, draw cartoons, but now I like to draw human figures and dresses. I wanted to be a scientist but now I would like to be a designer." No, she doesn't watch FTV or flip through fashion magazines. Like a seasoned artiste, she says she listens to her inner voice.
Her parents are a little apprehensive of all the attention coming her way. It's likely to be a long-term problem. Today, she is getting offers from stores near and far to design wedding ensembles. Somewhere, a landlord who once rebuked her when she painted one of the walls of her room with her designs is kicking himself. Naphi, however, is looking ahead. She says she will use her skills to create beautiful gowns that will help to support her family.
At Eleven, she’s a designing woman
