On November 1, 2024, just a day after Diwali, renowned fashion designer Rohit Bal passed away due to a cardiac arrest at the age of 63. Rohit Bal – widely considered one of the most influential figures of modern Indian fashion – had been battling a heart ailment for one year now. He died at a hospital in Delhi.
His death was confirmed by the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). “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, Bal’s work redefined Indian fashion and inspired generations. His legacy of artistry, innovation, and forward-thinking will live on in the fashion world,” the FDCI wrote in a social media post.
Bal was regarded as a trendsetter in Indian fashion, with designs that challenged norms, seamlessly blending traditional aesthetics with contemporary flair and blending India’s cultural heritage with global fashion trends.
- Born in Srinagar in 1961, Rohit Bal studied at Woodlands House School and Burn Hall School before he was forced to move to Delhi. Here he completed his education from Delhi Public School Mathura Road and studied History at St Stephen’s College.
- After St Stephens, Bal joined NIFT in Delhi to study fashion.
- After he graduated from NIFT, he co-founded Orchid Oversea Pvt. Ltd. with his brother in 1986, but it was his solo debut 4 short years later in 1990 that catapulted him to fame, and transforming him into a fashion sensation almost overnight.
- Bal designed costumes for superstar Amitabh Bachchan on the popular Indian game show, Kaun Banega Crorepati. His designs were favoured by global celebrities, including Cindy Crawford, Pamela Anderson, Amitabh Bachchan, and Deepika Padukone.
- He was among Indian fashion’s first major national and international successes and was known for his love for whites, golds, off whites, and blacks, bold motifs such as the lotus, in a range of rich fabrics such as silk and velvet.
Celebrity clothes aside, Bal was also connected to the masses in unique ways. He was chosen by the Khadi Gram Udyog, the largest handloom textile operation in Panchkula, to work with them. He divresified into designing prêt collections for brands like BIBA, making his designs accessible to the common man. His work went beyond designing clothes and couture as is evident in his partnership with brands like HiDesign and Titan.
He launched a flagship store in Delhi, as well as stores in Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Chennai. Bal also ventured into designing jewellery.
Accolades
In the year 2000, Rohit Bal became the first recipient of the IMAGES Fashion Awards ‘Fashion Designer of the Year’.
He went on to win many more awards and accolades including ‘Designer of the Year’ award at the Indian Fashion Awards in 2006 and ‘Designer of the Year’ at the Kingfisher Fashion Achievement Awards in 2001. He was recognized as the ‘Lakme Grand Finale Designer’ in 2012 and in 2020, he was recognized as ‘Iconic Fashion Designer of the Country’ by the jury of the Rajnigandha Pearls India Fashion Awards.
Rohit Bal’s passing marks a significant loss for the fashion industry. Just a month ago, he had made a triumphant return to the fashion scene with the launch of his latest collection, Kaayanaat, at the Lakme Fashion Week.
