Rohit Bal has collaborated with an NGO to help rehabilitate the flood victims in the Valley. He speaks to Karan Bhardwaj about his love for the trellis of wild roses and ubiquitous lotus
There’s an exquisite reason why ‘finales’ of the fashion weeks are known to be a ‘grand’ affair. A buoyant designer, clothes and jewellery exuding opulence, an extraordinary setup embellished with larger than life props, a heavy dose of techno-beats or some soulful music and a mad frenzy to be spotted at the front-row. In fact, with the ever growing competition between Delhi’s Wills lifestyle India Fashion Week and Mumbai’s lakme Fashion Week, the organisers, designers and sponsors in both the cities are kicked about elevating standards and setting fresh yardsticks with each season. This time, WIFW, staged by Fashion Design Council of India for over seven years, will have arguably India’s most revered designer Rohit Bal to draw the curtains on Autumn-Winter special. With this, Gudda, as Bal is fondly called, marks his return as the finale’s poster boy after two years. In his long career of 24 years, he has been the concluding rockstar thrice in Delhi and four times at lakme’s fash bash.
As he returns on this platform, he is working day in and day out to blow away the fashionistas on October 12. However, we were equally shocked and surprised to find him little low on spirits when he arranged a special media preview of his collection at ITC Maurya. The designer, who’s always on an effervescent ride, was having serious discussions with the representatives of the title sponsors and was quite non-indulgent during the opening moments of his show. We couldn’t help but ask him why. “I’m stressed! But there’s no pressure, it’s like a challenge. I am burning the midnight oil since it’s going to be an amazing show. I am using a heritage site and I have just come from a government department. Few minutes ago, I was informed we have finally got the permission. My shows are always like a mega production,” he told us.
As he got chatty he revealed how he is bringing a world-renowned Sufi voice to lend live music to his show. Bal, who hails from Kashmir, is in distress after the recent floods deluged most parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Through his latest line, he is paying tribute to the glory of the state known for its breathtaking beauty. Titled Gulbagh, the collection is inspired by the rich and lush Mughal gardens of Kashmir.
“From the peony to the chrysanthemum, the trellis of wild roses and the ubiquitous lotus, this collection is as close to my heart, as can be,” he said.
Though the collection is for the finale, it is distinctly prêt-a-porter. “I have kept the look and the feel contemporary with strong Indian sensibility, which is my trade-mark. The fabrics range from fine handlooms like chanderi, fine mulmul, matka silk and voile. Velvet lends a hint of luxury. Techniques like hand-block printing have been used with vegetable dyes and gold leaf embossing. There is a generous use of quilting and tilla, hand embroidery in resham. This collection is very low on bling but revels in an extravagant use of thread and metallic gold,” he informed.
Apart from this glamorous do, he has also collaborated with Dr Naresh Trehan’s NGO Insaniyat to contribute to the rehabilitation work. Since the floods have left many homeless, the designer is supplying construction material to help victims build new habitat. “We are doing whatever we can. I have a special connection with the place. We are planning to send trucks loaded with bricks to help them make their houses because no matter whatever we send, if they don’t have homes to live in, than whatever we have sent earlier is of no use. We are going to help them build their houses,” he added.