Rohit Bal, affectionately known as "Gudda" but sometimes referred to as "Enfant terrible," is known for his fashion displays that defied convention and endured.
A designer's king. "A prince among men." A noticeably weakened Rohit Bal walked hand in hand with actor Ananya Panday at his homecoming presentation last month, which is now his final show, while models strutted down the Lakme Fashion Week catwalk in lavish creations and sophisticated styles.
Even if a protracted heart condition affected his physical well-being and public persona, his work demonstrated that he still had the title that TIME magazine had given him: "The Master of Fabric and Fantasy."
A designer's king. "A prince among men." A noticeably weakened Rohit Bal walked hand in hand with actor Ananya Panday at his homecoming presentation last month, which is now his final show, while models strutted down the Lakme Fashion Week catwalk in lavish creations and sophisticated styles.
Even if a protracted heart condition affected his physical well-being and public persona, his work demonstrated that he still had the title that TIME magazine had given him: "The Master of Fabric and Fantasy."
Rohit Bal, affectionately known as "Gudda" but also referred to as "Enfant terrible," is known for displays that defied convention, endured, and continue to provide an unmatched example of luxury meets modernity. As an example, consider his 2015 performance, which had male models wearing sindoor and ghagra skirts and was set against the backdrop of the Qutub Minar. Then came his famous Lodhi display, in which models dressed in elaborate embroidery went into a pool like lotuses and lilies. (Interesting fact: He later dove into the pool as well.)
Drawing influence from his Kashmiri roots, Rohit Bal made flower and peacock patterns a staple of his 1989 label. His profound knowledge of Indian textiles was apparent in the intricate needlework. His specialty was combining opulent textiles, striking hues, intricate details, and silhouettes to showcase India's rich cultural legacy.
Thus, it is not surprising that his label swiftly spread to the Middle East and Europe, and that many Indian and foreign celebrities, such as Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Uma Thurman, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Pamela Anderson, were adorned with his designs.
Bal characterized himself as a designer who "creates imaginative and innovative masterpieces for catwalks and fashion talks by combining the right mix of history, folklore, village craft, and dying arts" on his website.
Rohit Bal's focus on the role of the craftsman was apparent in his work long before the era of mass clothing production gave rise to movements calling for fair compensation for craftspeople. In the 1990s, he also served as a mentor to other designers, such as Sahil Kochhar, Nidhi, and Pankaj.
He dabbled in the culinary arts by opening Delhi's laid-back Cibo and rustic Veda. Rohit Bal also made it to the big screen, making appearances in the Indian blockbusters Boom and Monsoon Wedding as well as the Hollywood movie True West.
'Kaynaat,' Rohit Bal's final show, was a celebration of "the bloom of life and beauty". The collection serves as a reminder that timeless elegance transcends time, generations, and a constantly evolving fashion sense, much like all of his work over the course of a three-decade career. The designer's products will transition from being instruments of beauty and expression to stories and art as his illustrious life draws to a close.
Drawing influence from his Kashmiri roots, Rohit Bal made flower and peacock patterns a staple of his 1989 label. His profound knowledge of Indian textiles was apparent in the intricate needlework. His specialty was combining opulent textiles, striking hues, intricate details, and silhouettes to showcase India's rich cultural legacy.
Thus, it is not surprising that his label swiftly spread to the Middle East and Europe, and that many Indian and foreign celebrities, such as Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Uma Thurman, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Pamela Anderson, were adorned with his designs.
Bal characterized himself as a designer who "creates imaginative and innovative masterpieces for catwalks and fashion talks by combining the right mix of history, folklore, village craft, and dying arts" on his website.
Rohit Bal's focus on the role of the craftsman was apparent in his work long before the era of mass clothing production gave rise to movements calling for fair compensation for craftspeople. In the 1990s, he also served as a mentor to other designers, such as Sahil Kochhar, Nidhi, and Pankaj.
He dabbled in the culinary arts by opening Delhi's laid-back Cibo and rustic Veda. Rohit Bal also made it to the big screen, making appearances in the Indian blockbusters Boom and Monsoon Wedding as well as the Hollywood movie True West.
'Kaynaat,' Rohit Bal's final show, was a celebration of "the bloom of life and beauty". The collection serves as a reminder that timeless elegance transcends time, generations, and a constantly evolving fashion sense, much like all of his work over the course of a three-decade career. The designer's products will transition from being instruments of beauty and expression to stories and art as his illustrious life draws to a close.
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