When creativity is rooted in heritage, it transforms into something timeless. For Zingranwong Shatsang better known as Zing and Creative Director at Zido Salon, Bandra the British Hairdressing Awards (BHA) 2025 became the stage to narrate a deeply personal story.
Her collection, ‘Tangkhul Nao’ (Being Tangkhul), isn’t just about hairstyling. It is an ode to ancestry, resilience and the power of hair as a cultural marker.
A TRIBUTE TO THE ANCESTORS
“Through ‘Tangkhul Nao,’ I wanted to give the world a true glimpse of who we are using hair as my storytelling medium,” says Shatsang.
The cuts replicate traditional Tangkhul styles, while the colours echo the tribe’s shawl patterns, and the accessories are heirlooms passed down generations. Even photography reflects anthropological portraits that once introduced the tribe to the outside world.
STANDING OUT WITH AUTHENTICITY
In a landscape crowded with reinterpreted global trends, Shatsang’s work dares to go back to its roots.
Living in Mumbai for 21 years, she realised how little people knew of her homeland. “Their inquisitiveness motivated me to create imagery that shows what it feels like to be me, a Tangkhul Nao, in Mumbai,” she shares.
What makes her collection unique is authentic cultural representation: a direct link between her people’s identity and modern artistry.
THE CRAFT BEHIND THE COLLECTION
Precision was everything. Shatsang explains how she measured, painted and layered hair like fabric on a loom. “I wanted the garments and accessories to speak not just as props, but as storytellers of origin and emotion.”
• Colour palettes mirror the original beetroot red from Tangkhul garments, rather than adopting popular tomato reds.
• Shawl patterns were painstakingly recreated through painted panels, some taking two full days to complete.
• Symbolism ran deep in the elder shawl paired with the men’s haircut Haokuiret or hornbill-inspired highlights that paid homage to wartime traditions.
CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY
The biggest hurdles were not creative but logistical. Shatsang originally planned to shoot in her ancestral village, but political unrest in Manipur forced a shift to Mumbai.
What could have been expansive cultural backdrops became studio portraits, requiring special lighting and camera expertise—pushing up costs.
ADVICE TO YOUNG STYLISTS
For Shatsang, every collection is more than visuals; it’s an artist’s manifesto. Her advice is practical yet profound:
• Pick a personal theme. Show the world how your mind works, not just your skills.
• Budget smartly. Always calculate the highest and lowest cost before fixing what to spend.
• Build a trusted team. Shared vision matters more than anything.
CARRYING YOUR LEGACY WITH PRIDE
Tangkhul Nao is about legacy. She asserts, “This is for future generations of Tangkhuls to walk with pride. May young Tangkhul hairdressers bring back India’s hairdressing pride.”
Her work is both a cultural preservation and an artistic rebellion, proving that India’s heritage can set new benchmarks on the global hairdressing stage.
QUICK QUESTION ROUND
1. Favourite hair tool? Scissors (if I must pick one!)
2. Biggest muse? My Apuk, my paternal grandfather
3. One trend you swear by? Classics—they’re the foundation of everything
4. Go-to source of inspiration? Nature, ancient architecture and design documentation.