Rohit Bal (1961 – 2024): Remembering a true fashion genius

PC | Instagram @rohitbalofficial

Designer Rohit Bal, 63, a pioneer who helped put Indian fashion on the global map, died on Friday night in Delhi following a heart attack

Bal was born on May 8, 1961, in Srinagar, to a Kashmiri Pandit family. He graduated from St Stephen's College, Delhi, with a degree in History

He initially worked with his brother's export company, Orchid Oversea Pvt. Ltd, before launching his own fashion line in 1990.

Focusing first on traditional designer menswear, he later on expanded to women's fashion

Known as “Gudda” to his friends, he designed clothes for Bollywood stars Kajol, Sonam Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal and many more

His designs were also donned by Hollywood stars Pamela Anderson, Uma Thurman, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Elizabeth Hurley

Bal had even designed clothes for the popular Indian trivia show, 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' and also dressed Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra

He was dubbed India's 'Master of fabric and fantasy' by TIME Magazine in 1996

Rohit Bal made his final runway appearance at the Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI 2024 grand finale on October 13, 2024