The Daniel Syiem label makes classic, timeless ensembles for women in natural fabrics. It is sustainable, eco-friendly and celebrates personal style. The label seamlessly blends traditional craft of hand-woven fabrics with western silhouettes. The signature style is minimalistic with clean lines, drapes and unique profiles. Promoting and preserving the hand-weaving traditions of the indigenous weaver tribes of North East India, the label stresses on high quality, rare fabrics, classic styles and conscious consumption. Focussing on the usage of fabrics like Ryndia (heritage fabric hand-woven by local weavers of Meghalaya) and natural processes that sustain ecosystems and involve mindful usage of resources, recycling and minimal wastage, the label practices slow fashion. This label has been launched in, New York, Toronto, London & Rome.
About Daniel Syiem’s Ethnic Fashion House (DSEFH)
Daniel Syiem’s Ethnic Fashion House was established in 2011 by Janessaline M Pyngrope & Daniel Syiem. Shillong’s First Fashion House, DSEFH, was formed with a very clear objective of protecting, reviving, uplifting the traditional fabrics of the North-East mainly Meghalaya and promoting its use by innovating it into modern, contemporary, international fashion.
They endeavour to appeal to a target audience who appreciates natural, hand-woven and organic textiles which are the forte of our Fashion House. Daniel Syiem’s interpretation of these exclusive and heritage fabrics has been appreciated and is in demand.
The core aim is to safeguard and promote the hand-woven fabric of the state of Meghalaya- Ryndia and other fabrics of the North East region. Their experiences in working with these indigenous fabrics have exposed them to the fact that the art of making these textiles is slowly dying. The making of these heritage fabrics has been passed down from generation to generation of weavers. The weavers need to be supported and encouraged by making their craft economically viable. “It is really imperative that we work towards preserving our heritage crafts through reinvention and innovation”, says the founders. DSEFH is working hard to revive this fabric by innovating at the yarn stage to create beautiful patterns, designs and vegetable dyes. This fabric is hand-woven by the weavers of the Ri-Bhoi district in Meghalaya. Simultaneously, DSEFH aims to create employment for weavers, workers, artisans and safeguarding ancient weaves by promoting its usage.
Daniel Syiem Profile
Daniel Syiem knew that the fashion world was his destination when he realized his true vocation- fashion. He is the Co-Founder & Partner of Daniel Syiem’s Ethnic Fashion House, taking on the mantle of Creative Head & Lead Designer. He was invited to exhibit his collections at WIPO, United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland & at The Nehru Centre, UK in 2016. His latest SS 16 collection was launched at Fashion International during London Fashion Week, September 19th 2015. In May 2015, Daniel showcased at the International Fashion Encounter, Toronto, Canada 2015 upon invitation, amongst top designers from Latin America & the Middle East. He launched his S/S 2015 collection at Fashion International during London Fashion Week at the iconic Royal Horseguards Hotel. His S/S 2014 collection was launched at the Couture Fashion Week, New York at The New Yorker Hotel, Madison Avenue, New York. Recently, he showcased an indigenous collection at the Second Global Meeting of the Indigenous Peoples Forum at IFAD Headquarters, Rome on 12th February 2015 promoting the tribal weaves of North East India. On World Environment Day he did a show for Forests & Environment Department (FED), the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) and Worldview Impact in line with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) theme – Raise Your Voice and Not The Sea Level in Shillong, Meghalaya, his hometown. He has showcased in the North East Fashion Fest, Delhi and the Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2013. He received a tremendous response from the press, fellow designers as well as national and international buyers. His debut in the Summer/Resort season of Lakme Fashion Week made the fashion industry sit up and take notice of this talented designer. Currently, Daniel Syiem is regularly invited to showcase his collections at all prestigious fashion platforms in India and worldwide.
His collections have received great reviews and have been featured in top magazines like Grazia, Platform, Klicks Fashion, Eclectic North-East, Elle, Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.The Eastern Chronicle cited him as an achievement for Meghalaya for the year 2013. In 2000, he won the North-East Best Designer Award and there has been no looking back since. He has presented various collections all over India and his repertoire of fashion shows is immense. He has a string of awards recognizing his unique international style and focus on promoting organic and ethnic material exclusive to the North-East region of India. His forte in Western Wear is apparent in the clean silhouettes, seamless fluidity and interesting drapes in his collection. Blending fashion and style with the essence of traditional cloth, the label Daniel Syiem has started making waves nationally and internationally.
Janessaline M Pyngrope – Business Head, DSEFH
Janessaline M. Pyngrope, currently heads Daniel Syiem’s Ethnic Fashion House(DSEFH) as the Business Head, and is the Co-Founder & Partner of Daniel Syiem’s Ethnic Fashion House. Her experience includes project management, community work and vocational training all rolled into one. Armed with a degree in management education from BIMM, Pune, she decided to return to her roots to work towards change and development in the North East of India. She dedicated four years (2004-2008) to working for rural development at the grassroots level through the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) project in Ukhrul district, Manipur (UDCRMS-IFAD), as the Business Development Officer. Next, she worked in MRDS-LIFCOM as Assistant Manager BDS, Ri Bhoi district (2009-2010), Shillong for a year and a half where she has worked extensively to uplift traditional weavers and introduce new and safe weaving looms. From Jan 2011-May 2014, she was employed as Project Manager of Meghalaya for BASIX Academy for Building Lifelong Employability (B-ABLE). The focus here was to provide gainful employment to the youths of Meghalaya through short-term vocational courses such as Sales and Marketing, Basic Housekeeping, Food and Beverages Services, etc.
Her myriad experiences working at the local level with weavers and artisans encouraged her to also envision a business platform to promote the tradition and culture of the North East through fashion. Bringing her entrepreneurial abilities to the fore, she teamed up with Daniel Syiem to start Shillong’s First Fashion House- Daniel Syiem’s Ethnic Fashion House. Recently Janessaline Pyngrope was featured in Fox Traveller’s What’s With Indian Women, Shillong Chapter and has been mentioned in the book written by Mr. David Das, ‘Trailblazers, Meghalaya (2nd edition)’.
Source : Daniel Syiem’s Ethnic Fashion House