Rohit Bal, who redefined Indian fashion,dies at 63

Designer Rohit Bal, a pioneer who helped put Indian fashion on the global map and dressed celebrities at home, Hollywood and elsewhere, died on Friday night at a south Delhi hospital following a heart attack. He was 63. The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) announced his death in a post on Instagram, saying that his work "redefined Indian fashion".Bal was admitted to Aashlok Hospital in Safdarjung Enclave. He was being treated by Dr Alok Chopra, Fashion Development Council of India (FDCI) president Sunil Sethi said.He had a cardiac arrest... heart failure.Bal popularised fashion designing as a viable, glamorous profession in the 1990s and many who came after him credit him for their success.Bal's designs won acclaim for his deep understanding of Indian textiles and meticulous attention to detail.
Born in Srinagar in 1961, Bal graduated from Delhi's St Stephens College with an honours degree in history. He then worked in his family's export business for a few years, learning the ropes. After completing his formal education in fashion design at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Delhi, Bal embarked on a journey that would redefine Indian fashion.Once dubbed “India's Master of fabric and fantasy” by Time Magazine in 1996, Bal always carried a bit of his home Kashmir in his soul and his designs often reflected that beauty through motifs such as roses and lotuses.He set up his own label and designer line in 1990 and later opened several stores in India, the Middle East and Europe.
Bal's death marks the proverbial end of an era. He leaves behind a formidable legacy, carving a niche for himself with his distinctive and innovative designs that seamlessly blend traditional aesthetics with contemporary flair.Bal dressed Hollywood names such as Uma Thurman, Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell during his career of more than three decades. In India, his designs were worn by Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal and others.Bal also collaborated with the Khadi Gram Udyog to bring handloom textiles into high fashion.
Kareena Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra were among those who expressed their shock.Filmmaker Onir also expressed his shock at Bal’s death.Singer Shibani Kashyap said in Bal’s death, the fashion world had lost “a true icon, a visionary” whose designs defied time and set new standards of elegance.
Best known for his use of lotus and peacock motifs, Bal used rich fabrics like velvet and brocade - his designs were elaborate, inspired by Indian grandeur and royalty. He had tie-ups with textile giants like the Aditya Birla Group and even ventured into designing jewellery and luxury watches.