Heirloom Naga Centre in Dimapur is both an immersion into Naga culture, while at the same time offering top-notch, smart and stylish hospitality. As well as having beautifully designed rooms for overnight guests, the Centre is a hub for displaying and celebrating Naga craft and design heritage.  

For this reason, this boutique guesthouse is ideal for craft enthusiasts! It is the mission of founder Jesmina Zeilang to be your ultimate host for an immersive Naga cultural experience.  

The Heirloom Naga Gallery, part of the centre, is an exhibit of the rich tapestry of traditional practices deeply rooted in Naga culture. This collection has been curated over the decades to showcase the finest Naga craftsmanship. The collection embraces the diversity of indigenous materials and patterns used by the various Naga tribes.  

FLASH POINT: It is possible to arrange textiles tours in and around Dimapur when staying at Heirloom Naga Centre.  

The backstory

Perhaps more than anyone else, Jesmina Zeilang can be credited with bringing the heritage of Naga textiles to the eyes of the world. This journey began in Dimapur in 1993, when Jesmina had the idea to curate a collection of Naga textiles crafted by local weavers. She took her first collection to Delhi’s Surajkund Mela, where it caught people’s attention.

Since then, she has come a long way.

After founding the Naga Heirloom Studio, in 2023 Jesmina built the Heirloom Naga Centre. Her eldest son Aku (himself an acclaimed designer) acts as Creative Head, while his younger brother Nathan is the Centre’s Director. The Centre acts as a “a physical expression” to Jesmina’s commitment to Naga culture and conducts “workshops for schools and colleges, instilling in young people an early appreciation of their cultural legacy.”

The drinking & dining

Drinking and dining at the Naga Heirloom Centre is an integral part of the experience, offering a thoughtful introduction to Naga food culture in a setting that reflects the Centre’s wider mission.

The menu draws on traditional Naga recipes and local produce, with dishes that highlight smoked meats, fermented elements, fresh herbs and seasonal vegetables. Flavours are bold but balanced, offering visitors a chance to understand the region’s distinctive culinary identity without dilution or theatrics. Meals are often accompanied by locally sourced teas and infusions, and at times traditional rice beers, giving further insight into everyday Naga food and drink traditions.

And for those who want something more familiar, Naga Heirloom Centre can also whip up a great plate of fries or a bowl of fresh salad.

The positive impact

Jesmina’s Heirloom Naga textile studio works with over 450 Naga women, most of whom weave from their homes. The designs draw off traditional Naga motifs, and are exclusive to Heirloom Naga. Jesmina employs an all-girls team for quality control and inspection.

Jesmina sees the textiles not only as a pivotal aspect of Naga heritage, but also vital for Nagaland’s economic future. She laments that there is very little outside investment in the Naga Hills, so development is sluggish. The lack of industry means that it is textile weaving and other crafts such as basketry that keeps home fires burning.

Jesmina says: “While the younger generation values weaving as a cultural identity marker, many are increasingly drawn to opportunities outside their villages, often migrating to cities in search of more lucrative jobs. This gradual shift poses a challenge to the long-term sustainability of the craft.”

What we love

It is not an understatement to say, that the proliferation and heightened exposure of Naga designs over the last decade or so, has played a significant role in brightening the impression of Nagaland in the eyes of both foreigners and Indians from other parts of the country.

What Jesmina has created is both a celebration of the heritage of the Nagas, while also displaying the innovation and creativity that is bubbling away in this hidden corner of India. In Nagaland you will see tattoos; you may meet former head-hunters and sit next to rebel commanders. All this is very real and thrilling. But the textiles and designs coming out of these hills shows that there is much more going on here than that.

Anything left to mention?

Be sure to spend some time in the Gallery when staying at Heirloom Naga Centre. It showcases handwoven shawls, ceremonial garments and heirloom pieces, placing them in their historical and social context rather than treating them as decorative objects: what Nathan describes as a “reflection of the everyday life of the Nagas.”

Central to the Gallery’s vision is Aku Zeiland, the acclaimed Naga designer and Creative Head of the Centre. Known internationally for his contemporary reinterpretations of Naga designs, Aku brings both rigour and sensitivity to the gallery’s work. His role bridges tradition and innovation, ensuring that Naga craftsmanship is documented, respected and kept relevant, while creating opportunities for weavers and artisans to sustain these traditions into the future.