International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Social Sciences 14 2 2025 04 14 Weaving the Past and Present: Ao Naga Traditional Attire in Transition 5 11 EN Goswami Harish Puri 1 Gandhinagar, India Longchar Resenmenla 1 Department of History, ICFAI University Nagaland, India > Research Article 2024 12 19 2025 04 14 In Nagaland, weaving is a traditional art that has been passed down through the generations. Nagas are known for their love of colour, which is why they are known as colourful Nagas. Nagas are also great collectors of ornaments. Naga traditional attire frequently has symbolic purposes. Messages regarding a person's age, marital status, occupation, or even their participation in rites and ceremonies can be conveyed through the use of particular colours, patterns, or motifs. Clothing is, in a sense, the product of one's attitude and identity. It is not confined to clothing or body covering. Like other Naga tribes, the Ao Nagas have numerous kinds of costumes for men and women, each of which is distinctive and peculiar to each clan. Traditional Ao Naga women's clothing and apparel are diverse and explicit, with a variety of meanings. Ao Naga women have had their clan identification through their clothing since ancient times. It is assumed that with the arrival of the British, Christianity, and education in the Naga Hills, traditional dress has been replaced by more contemporary fashions that incorporate parts of Western and Asian attire for everyday use. Acculturation has made people more modern in their attire than in any other aspect of their lives, hence dress is the most rapidly changing culture in each community. Thus, this paper attempts to determine whether the influence of other new cultures has resulted in the hybridization of indigenous attire, and whether the customs, dresses, and ornaments have any relevance to the current generation in a society where a plurality of cultures has resulted from the influx of mass media. The paper further seeks to highlights the importance of recognizing and appreciating Naga traditional cultural attire in the midst of social change and transition. Copyright@ International Science Community Association