Poncho with Front Pocket and Button on Neck from Nagaland
Dry clean recommended. Store with natural cedar or neem leaves. Avoid direct sunlight and moisture.
Description
From the mist-wrapped hills of Nagaland comes a garment that carries the quiet authority of tribal craft. Woven in sturdy wool by artisan communities of the Naga highlands, this poncho honours a textile tradition where warmth and identity have always been inseparable. The weave is dense and honest, offering genuine insulation without sacrificing the ease of a free-size silhouette that drapes generously across the shoulders. A front pocket and a neat button fastening at the neck speak to functional intelligence, details that feel entirely in keeping with the Naga sensibility of clothing that must work as well as it endures. The colourways, a still and contemplative Deep Lake and a boldly striped Tri Colour, reflect the region's long love of saturated, geometric expression in cloth. Wear it over a simple kurta or a high-necked merino for the cooler months, letting the poncho serve as the statement. It travels equally well to a mountain weekend as it does to an unhurried afternoon in the city.
Complete your look
Hand-picked pieces that sing gently with this one.
Behind this piece
Nagaland's textile tradition is among the oldest living craft systems in the subcontinent, shaped by the high-altitude terrain and the distinct visual language of its many tribes. Each Naga community weaves with a purpose: cloth communicates identity, status, and belonging. This poncho carries the geometry of that lineage, rendered in wool suited to the cold mist of the Naga hills. The front pocket and button-neck closure are practical additions woven into the garment's logic, not imposed upon it. The Deep Lake and Tri Colour palettes echo the bold, ceremonial chromatics that have always defined Naga weaving.
How to style
Wear the Deep Lake poncho over a straight-cut ivory kurta and slim churidar for a considered winter gathering. At a mountain retreat, layer it above wide-leg woollen trousers and Kolhapuri sandals for unhurried ease. For a contemporary diaspora occasion, pair the Tri Colour version with dark indigo jeans, a tucked silk shirt, and clean leather loafers. Keep jewellery architectural and minimal: a single oxidised silver cuff or a carved horn piece honours the Naga aesthetic without competing with the poncho's own strong pattern and structural silhouette.
Fabric & care
Wool retains its form best with a cold, gentle hand-wash using a mild, pH-neutral detergent. Avoid wringing; instead, press the water out gently and roll the poncho in a clean cotton towel to absorb moisture. Dry flat in shade, away from direct sunlight, which fades natural dyes. Store folded, never on a hanger, to prevent the shoulders from stretching. Cedar blocks placed nearby discourage moths without the harshness of chemical repellents. With attentive care, the wool will soften gradually and the weave will remain structurally intact for many winters.
More from womens tops
Sale
Sale
Sale
Reviews
No reviews yet — be the first to share your thoughts.
From the Journal
Stories about the craft, the loom, and the wearing of a piece like this one.
