A cluster is defined as a geographic concentration(a city/town/few adjacent villages and their adjoining areas)of units producing near similar products and facing common opportunities and threats.An artisan cluster is defined as geographically concentrated(mostly in villages/townships)household units producing handicraft/handloom products.In a typical cluster,such producers often belong to a traditional community,producing the long-established products for generations.Indeed,many artisan clusters are centuries old Artisan.

About Nigonmthong Cluster:-

Nigonmthong Cluster falls under Manipur State in Imphal district.

The Nigonmthong cluster is able to form above 216 Artisans and 1SHGs supporting the strong work force.The mobilisation gains momentum day by day.

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Embroidery:-

Manipur has a unique type of embroidery that uses one stitch, in deference to the weavers in the area. This is done in dark matching shade with untwisted silk thread on the border of the phanek (a lungi or lower body wrap worn by women). Colors in dark red, plum or chocolate are usually used. The embroidery is so artistically done that it does not clash with the weave and is often mistaken for it. 
 
Akoybi embroidery is done in an elegant snake-like pattern or design, derived from the legendary snake, pakhamba (killed by the husband of a goddess, who later tried to atone for this act by imitating the pattern). Akoybi means circular and the design involves one circle joining the other, each broken further with a significant motif in shades of shades of red along with black and white. Hijay is another pattern where black and white, along with shades of pink thread are used in a continuous pattern. 
 
Angami Naga shawls have animal motifs in black. This was previously called sami lami phee (which means warrior cloth of wild animals) and was given to brave distinguished warriors by the royalty, in recognition of their prowess and ability. The colours are bright green, red, yellow, and white. Abhala or mirror-embroidery work is done only on ras dance costume. 
 
The indigenous inhabitants of Manipur are the meithei community. Their designs, called tindogbi, are inspired from a silk caterpillar sitting on a castor leaf and eating it. Possession of Shamilami fabric, which is a combination of weaving and embroidery, is considered a status symbol. Maibung is a natural design inspired from the natural finish of the wood. 

Raw materials:- 

Colours, threads, pearl. Mirrors, stylised flowers. 

Process:- 

Manipur has only one style of embroidery which is exclusively its own with practically no variety in stitches, so overwhelmed does this region seem by its rich weaves. The phanek is the plain fabric in a dark shade or with plain stripes in three colours. Akoybi is the most significant design having two shades of red with the reflection of the other, with a little black and just a touch of white. The abhala (mirror) embroidery is found only on the raas dance costume. Among other embroidered designs, mention of the animal motifs seen on the black shawls must be made which are called Angami Naga Shawls.

The embroidery is the border of the phanek, a women lungi, which is woven in dark stripes against pink background, with silken untwisted thread. The colours usually being dark red, plum or Chocolate. The phanek is sometimes a plain fabric in a dark shade or with plain stripes in three colours. Akyobi is another significant design in embroidery. Akyobi means circular and in it one circle joins the other, each being further broken into patterns each with a significant motif. The colours used in the design are two shades of red with a little black and a touch of white. 

Techniques:- 

Embroidery displays a combination of the cross-stitch and the line or double running stitch.Embroidery designs are prepared by fixing small round shaped mirrors to the material with the help of the buttonhole stitch, the outline being sketched by hand. Silken thread is used for the stitching done in stem or herring bone, closely worked.

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How to reach:-

From Guwahati daily on the NH 39 via Dimapur and Komiha. Manipur State Road Transport Corporation(MSRTC) and many other private buses available.From Dimapur daily on the NH 39 via Komiha. Manipur State Road Transport Corporation(MSRTC) and many other private buses available.From Silchar daily on the NH 39 via Jiribam. Manipur State Road Transport Corporation(MSRTC) and many other private buses available.