In her write-up ‘Gendered Representation and Social Significance: Sumi Weaving and Handloom Traditions’ published in the book Objects, Identities, Meanings: Insider Perspectives from North East India, Dr Lovitoli Jimo brings out a pertinent point: ‘a shawl (aphi) or wraparound (amini) is not just a piece of clothing to cover oneself from nature or to beautify oneself, but a symbol of identity and status that communicates various socio-cultural and political meanings and values
