In India’s youth culture, one voice is getting louder, bolder, and more unapologetically individual. The youth of the Northeast is shaping Gen-Z urban fashion and culture. Whether it’s the lanes of Guwahati, the slopes of Shillong, or the vibrant alleys of Imphal, young Northeasterners are rewriting the rules of fashion, identity, and cultural expression. Their style doesn’t just follow trends; it creates them.
From the bustling Police Bazaar in Shillong to the cultural hubs of Kohima, street fashion in these hill cities is both fierce and fluid. In Shillong, often called the “rock capital of India,” music and fashion walk hand in hand; band tees, leather jackets, thrifted flannels. In Kohima or Aizawl, you’ll see thrifted jackets styled with worn-in Doc Martens, vintage sunglasses with traditional earrings, dyed hair peeking through oversized hoodies.
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Fashion as expression: From Guwahati to Imphal
Fashion in the Northeast isn’t about branded tags or runway perfection. It’s about storytelling. When you walk down the streets of Kohima or Aizawl, you’ll see thrifted jackets styled with worn-in Doc Martens, vintage sunglasses with traditional earrings, and dyed hair peeking through oversized hoodies. It’s a powerful statement of identity: fashion as rebellion, as reclamation, as pride. Thrift fashion in Police Bazar, Shillong, isn’t just a sustainable choice; it’s a way to carve out space in a country that often sidelines them. Each outfit says: We’re here. We’re different. And we belong.
Instagram as a canvas – Curating identity one post at a time
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Instagram has become the unofficial runway for this movement. With curated feeds and reels that blend grunge aesthetics, street wear, and cultural motifs, Gen-Z creators from the Northeast are not waiting for validation from the mainstream. NE youth are building their audience, and they’re being seen. These platforms give space to express not just what they wear, but who they are: queer, tribal, diasporic, experimental, and fluid. It’s fashion, yes, but it’s also voice, resistance, and celebration.
Street style from the hills -Fashion capitals of the Northeast
Tattoos, body piercings, and bold hair colors aren’t just style statements; they are maps of personal and political journeys. For many young people in the region, self-expression is deeply tied to their sense of being both inside and outside of dominant Indian narratives. Getting inked is often about telling untold stories of clans, struggles, beliefs, and freedom. And while older generations may see this as rebellion, for Gen-Z, it is simply being real.
Beats of belonging: Music as a mirror of identity
Music, too, plays a pivotal role in shaping this cultural identity. From smoky jam sessions in underground cafes to Insta-live sets from bedroom producers, music here is as layered as the region itself. Influences of punk-rock, indie folk, rap, and Korean pop culture mix fluidly. K-pop, in particular, resonates with Northeast youth not just aesthetically, but in spirit. The immaculate styling, gender-fluid presentation, and slick choreography offer a mirror that feels both aspirational and oddly familiar. Something is empowering about seeing East Asian faces dominating global culture; it subtly validates their own hybrid experiences.
Seoul meets Guwahati: Korean food as a cultural connector
Even food is part of the identity mosaic. Korean cuisine, once niche, is now a full-blown youth movement in Guwahati. Outlets like Yum Yum, Kimchi Eonni, and Taobao Korean Cafe are more than eateries: they’re fashion zones, hangouts, and Instagram backdrops. Korean food has become both comfort and cool, a shared language across fashion-forward circles.
Tradition remixed: street style with cultural roots
But amidst this cosmopolitan mix, local street styles remain foundational. The way a girl from Mizoram pairs a traditional puan with sneakers or how a boy from Nagaland layers his mother’s hand-woven scarf with a leather jacket; it’s a quiet revolution in style. Their choices are not about erasing roots, but remixing them, and cultural heritage becomes fashion-forward, not fixed in the past.
Visual Rebellion – Riders of the Mist
A powerful visual echo of this ethos can be seen in “Riders of the Mist” (2015), directed by Joel Rai. While not a fashion film per se, this documentary set in Meghalaya captures the spirit of freedom, rebellion, and community through the lens of traditional bareback horse racing. The stylish riders, raw visuals, and youth subcultures portrayed reflect the effortless blend of tradition and contemporary edge: a vibe very present in Northeast youth culture today.
What sets Gen-Z from the Northeast apart is that their fashion is built. It’s rooted in geography, shaped by political realities, and polished with a global touch. They don’t just wear clothes; they wear stories. And through every Instagram post, thrift haul, or underground gig, they are reshaping what it means to be young, Northeastern, and unapologetically visible in India’s cultural mainstream.