In the spotlight

He is the ultimate drama boy of Indian fashion. And while he has been aptly christened by Time magazine as the ‘Master of Fabric and Fantasy’,style is definitely his mantra. Known for his sophisticated cuts and fabrics,Rohit Bal is one of the most sought after designers in India and his creative mind gives a true bent of spirit in his work as well. But behind all the controversies that he’s been associated with and the brash behaviour,lies a very talented designer. And even though the news is out,it’s no surprise really. Wills Lifestyle,ITC’s premium fashion brand,has announced that Rohit Bal will be the designer for the Wills Lifestyle Grand Finale at the forthcoming Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week,a fashion and trade event. Wills Lifestyle has further strengthened its association with the internationally acclaimed designer as this will be the second time that Rohit Bal is the Wills Lifestyle Grand Finale designer.

Announcing this at the Wills Lifestyle store in Delhi,Atul Chand,Divisional Chief Executive – ITC’s Lifestyle Retailing Business Divison,said,“Wills Lifestyle Grand Finale has always set new benchmarks in creativity and has been a great mix of fashion and entertainment. This season one of India’s most distinguished and celebrated fashion designers,Rohit Bal,will be taking the same tradition forward and will create magic on the ramp in his signature style.” Quiz Bal on how it feels to be doing a finale for the second time around,and he answers on a cheerful note. “It is wonderful to be back and in fact a great honour to be doing the grand finale at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week once again. It is a perfect platform for me to show uninhibited creativity and express myself through a collection that transcends all seasons and reflects my sense of aesthetics without any constraints. It is really fashion for fashion sake,” he says.

The grand finale collection is called ‘Yasas’ and as Bal tells us it is much inspired by the resplendent glory of India’s rich cultural heritage. “It’s my interpretation of splendour and grandeur of the golden peacock,a name once India was known by,the glamour and inherent luxury that India once was a part of,” shares Rohit who will also be creating an exclusive collection for Wills Lifestyle that will be retailed from Wills Lifestyle stores across the country. Looking to bring back the “golden era” back to India through this line,Bal says it will of course include the “whimsical” moments he’s known for. “The silhouettes are breezy and my choice of fabric as been a mix of brocades and velvets,” explains the designer who will put forth pre-Mughal and Mughal designs like long and short anarkalis,sherwanis and much more. Here’s looking forward to with bated breath!

The Wills Lifestyle Grand Finale will take place on Wednesday,28 October 2009 in New Delhi.