Why Is Rohit Bal One of the Biggest Names in the Fashion Industry
If you keep up with fashion trends, celebrities, and red-carpet events, you must’ve heard of and seen Rohit Bal. Bal was an Indian fashion designer who passed away on 1st November 2024, just a day after Diwali at 63. He was a renowned professional, who had a clientele including Uma Thurman, Pamela Anderson, Cindy Crawford, Ananya Pande, Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, and more. The Lakme X Rohit Bal Grand Finale, named ‘Kaaynaat: A Bloom in the Universe’ held on October 13, 2024, was Bal’s final fashion show.
Bal’s Illness and Death
Rohit Bal had sustained a cardiac arrest in 2010, which demanded an angioplasty procedure. He suffered another arrest in 2023. On November 1st 2024, he suffered yet another cardiac arrest, which led to his death. The news was confirmed by the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), of which he was a founding member. Rohit Gandhi of the popular Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna duo accused model Lalit Tehlan of poisoning him. The accusations were further cemented by marketing professional Julie Deb. This has garnered humungous media attention and controversy.
In an Instagram post, FDCI wrote, “Bal’s work redefined Indian fashion, inspiring generations. His legacy of artistry, innovation, and forward-thinking will live on. Rest in peace GUDDA. You are a legend.” Late on Friday, the FDCI posted that Rohit Bal would be cremated at the Lodhi Road Crematorium in Delhi at 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 2. Since the news broke, he has been mourned by Masaba Gupta, Priyank Chopra, Neha Dhupia, Siddharth Malhotra, and Shoba De, amongst other industry names.
Rohit Bal’s Early Life
Designer Rohit Bal was born into a Kashmiri Pandit family in Kashmir valley on 8 May 1961. The 1970s Kashmir insurgency forced Bal and his family out of Kashmir, settling in Delhi. He studies at Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, before completing a Bachelor’s degree in History at St. Stephens College, University of Delhi. He later took a short course at the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi.
Rohit Bal’s Career Beginnings
Rohit Bal along with his brother Rajiv Bal, established Orchid Overseas Pvt. Ltd. in 1986. In 1990, Bal had debuted his independent menswear collection. He was also chosen to work at Panchkula’s largest handloom textile operation — Khadi Gram Udyog.
Bal soon opened his flagship store in New Delhi, which soon popped up in Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata. He also has stores in the Middle East and Europe. He has worked with Biba Apparels, engendering a limited collection, titled BIBA by Rohit Bal. He was also the brand ambassador for Omega watches from 2001. He has collaborated with Hidesign, Oriflame, Windproof Zippo Lighter, and Mitsubishi Outlander.
Rohit Bal’s Design Overview
Rohit Bal designed costumes for both men and women. In addition, he has also worked on jewellery, accessories, handbags, fragrances, and eyewear. His work features recurring motifs of peacocks, roses, and lotus. He was heavily inspired by the grandeur of Indian royal life and the cultural repository. To elevate his designs, he often employed velvet and brocade. Bal’s speciality is theatricality, from regal sherwanis to romantic, corseted silhouettes, his ostentatious displays are always supported by rigorous attention to detail.
Rohit Bal was among the first designers to patent and copyright his works, making him a trailblazer in the field of intellectual property. His designs are couture and ready-to-wear. The details, such as crochet cutouts, floral threadwork, and overlays of white and gold, are frequently elaborate and highly textural. Each basic crushed silk design in neutral colours is expertly constructed, and wider silhouettes feature a floral pleat at the bottom.
Bal has often paid homage to his native land. “I want people to know that Kashmir may be wartorn, but the beauty of Kashmir will always be a part of a Kashmiri’s life,” he told IANS in an interview before his 2019 show. Rohit Bal presented his collection, ‘Guldastah’ during the 2019 Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort. Dry Chinar leaves were scattered along the ramp for the performance, and shikaras adorned with vibrant flowers brought a touch of Kashmir. The dreamy show was perfectly complemented by a playlist of Kashmiri songs.
Achievements and Awards
In 2001, Rohit Bal was named the Kingfisher Fashion Achievement Awards ‘Designer of the Year.’ At the 2006 Indian Fashion Awards, he was named the ‘Designer of the Year.’ He received the 2012 Lakme Grand Finale Designer award. The Rajnigandha Pearls India Fashion Awards jury named him the ‘Iconic Fashion Designer of the Country’ in 2020.
In 1996, Time Magazine called Rohit Bal, ‘India’s Master of Fabric and Fantasy.’
Image Courtesy – India Today
