New Delhi (AFP) – Rohit Bal, one of India’s most acclaimed fashion designers, has died, his colleagues said Friday. Media reports indicated he passed away at the age of 63 after a long illness.
“We mourn the passing of legendary designer Rohit Bal,” the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) stated in a message on Instagram. “Known for his unique blend of traditional patterns with modern sensibilities, Bal’s work redefined Indian fashion and inspired generations.”
According to his website, Bal graduated from St. Stephen’s College in New Delhi with a degree in history. He then worked in his family’s export business for a few years before launching his label and designer line in 1990. In his work, Bal “draws from influences, wide and varied,” as stated in a promotional message on his site. “From the village crafts and traditional methods of design that India is so rich in, to the transient phenomenon of the subcontinent’s urban landscape, the designer brings them all to life.”
FDCI chairman Sunil Sethi expressed his condolences on Instagram, stating that the passing of Bal, popularly known as Gudda, “will leave a void in the fashion design space forever.” “Everyone admired him for his attention to detail, how beautifully his lotus bloomed on modern shapes and his understanding of what modern women desired,” Sethi added.
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