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Synonymous with fashion
Rohit Bal
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ANJALI DHAL SAMANTA speaks to a pioneer of Indian haute couture
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"I have no notions of conquering the West."
HE MAY be part of Delhi's air-kissing Page 3 circle, but the Indian fashion industry cannot ignore him. And neither can the media that is in parts impressed with his creativity and flattered by his wooing. Very, very shutter-happy, the fashion industry's very own Rohit Bal -- or Gudda as he is lovingly called -- might stand out in a crowd more because he's a Page 3 regular than for his simple black T-shirt and blue jeans. And, of course, for his ever-changing hair colour.
But think fashion and Gudda's there. After 14 long years of being part of the industry, somewhere -- and somehow -- Bal and fashion have merged. And for Bal, that does bring a sense of satisfaction. "There is a sense of satisfaction that I have been able to sustain myself in this profession for the past 14 years. Sometimes when I am just thinking about it, I smile to myself. I cannot always be content but yes, there is satisfaction,'' reveals the designer.
One of the pioneers of the modern Indian fashion industry, Bal is today synonymous with fashion. But after making his statement on the ramp, the designer is ready to follow what he calls the ``natural laws of progression''. Apart from a host of accessories, including watches and perfume, Bal has moved into the wedding designer market. ``This is natural progression for a designer. When you make clothes and see them worn with the wrong accessories, it just doesn't feel right. And then you start matching jewellery, belts and shoes with it,'' he explains.
And next follows the big Indian party: the traditional wedding. "Indian weddings have become a spectacle and that is the biggest thing in India. Made even bigger by Bollywood. All a client has to do is tell me what they want and then sit back and relax. Of course I will take the inputs from my clients but the company will do everything from the conceptualisation to the final execution,'' says the designer.
He may have been one of the first few designers to break into the international market, but as Indian fashion begins finally to set the trend, Bal claims that it is the domestic market that is more important to him. "I have done so many shows in Paris and other cities abroad. But I don't think that doing a show in Milan or Paris means that you have made it. In fact, I don't even watch international trends. Success for me means that you have been able to sustain your name for years at a time and that your name has presence all over the world,'' he says, and adds with a shrug, "the West doesn't excite me. It is great to be recognised outside the country and of course it is good for business. But I have no notions of conquering the West. There is plenty of potential in the Indian market and I want to explore that.''
Even so, as part of his "natural progression'', Bal is all ready to launch his home-furnishings, and, surprisingly, only for the international market. "It will only suit the Western market. It will be available here but I am concentrating mostly on the international market,'' explains Bal.
His "natural progression'' does not lead him to Bollywood. "I keep getting offers but this is not something I want to do. You have to make things that look pretty on screen and when you see them in reality, they don't look all that nice. Anyhow I don't know how to make cheap clothes. And more than that, I can't take care of star tantrums. It's a slave job -- some of my friends who design for these stars have to reach the sets at 4 in the morning!'' he exclaims.
But looking back at 14 long years, Bal is happy with the style statement that he has made. "Style statement for me is contemporary classic, something that will never be out of fashion. I feel so proud when people walk up to me and tell me that they can still wear my outfits after 10 years. They have been passed on from mother to daughter,'' says the designer.
Photo: R.V. Moorthy
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Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
|
