India’s leading designer Rohit Bal remembered

As the fashion world mourns the death of iconic Indian designer Rohit Bal, FashionUnited has collected comments from across the world, as the designer enchanted Hollywood and Bollywood alike, counting celebrities like Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Deepika Padukone, Aishwarya Rai and Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan among his customers and fans.

From Bollywood actors like Sonam Kapoor and Ananya Panday to designer Manish Malhotra, many admirers took to social media to pay their respects to Rohit Bal, affectionately known as “Gudda”.

Actor Ananya Panday, who was the showstopper at Bal’s last show “Kaaynaat: A Bloom in the Universe” at Lakme Fashion Week 2024 paid her heartfelt condolences and shared a picture of herself with Bal at the show.

Actress Sonam Kapoor commented, “I've been blessed to have known you and worn you and walked for you multiple times. I hope you are at peace.” Fellow fashion designer and contemporary Manish Malhotra called Bal’s death “sad and shocking”.

“We mourn the passing of legendary designer Rohit Bal. He was a founding member of the Fashion Design Council of India, known for his unique blend of traditional patterns with modern sensibilities. Rohit Bal’s work redefined Indian fashion and inspired generations. His legacy of artistry and innovation along with forward thinking will live on in the fashion world,” said The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) in a statement.

What was Rohit Bal’s appeal for western audiences?  

Bal was influenced by his Kashmiri roots, using Kashmiri embroidery in many of his creations, along with traditional Indian craftsmanship and designs. The Mughal era also had an influence on his work and expressed itself in the jewellery he designed and more traditional outfits, often using rich fabrics like velvet and brocade.

Yet, Bal was a designer who blended his rich Indian heritage effortlessly with more contemporary elements and designs, which made him popular with western audiences as well.

Friend and New Indian Express journalist Sunil Mehra calls him “an original (one of the very few) in a world of make-believe rip-off artists”. Even during the last decade, when Bal was struggling with cardiac-related health problems, he was better than the rest. “The fact remained that Bal on a bad day was better than many on their best days,” states Mehra.

Bal’s creations were elegant and classy - pieces that could have come out of a period piece or a fairy tale, yet always with a modern touch. Cuts were simple yet stylish and very much wearable, adding to his popularity with many celebrities.

In this video, Bal talks to fashion e-tailer Myntra about the influence of Delhi’s rich history on fashion.

“Rohit was one of the most creative people I ever knew, with an incredible attention to detail in everything he did — from modern music selections to every aspect of his work. It’s a tremendous loss. Despite health challenges, he still put on a show after five years,” commented Sunil Sethi, president of the Fashion Design Council of India, according to the New Indian Express.

As for Bal’s label and brand, his timeless pieces should be very much in demand even now, hoping that their creator had the foresight to protect his vision for the future.

Watch Rohit Bal’s complete fashion show, meant to be his comeback, at Lakme Fashion Week 2024 on 14th October: