The Hindu Business Line : <I>Haute</I> stuff!

He is the new-age fashion guru all right. He turned fashion designing into a happening profession at a time when people were not even familiar with the term `haute couture'. Fashion designer Rohit Bal is clearly one of the pioneers of the fashion industry in India and his creations can be found at every major fashion event in the country such as the Lakme India Fashion Week and all the major ramps shows every fashion season. Bal spoke to us at length airing his views on a variety of topics.

Why hasn't haute couture percolated to the rest of the country in a more wearable sense, off the ramps of Delhi and Mumbai, to the other major cities? "Chennai is more conservative and in Bangalore, people are more price conscious. Lifestyles are simple in Chennai and it goes against the social ethos to be surrounded by expensive designer clothes. Kolkata has just about managed to change over, though the Bengali culture is still very dominant there too," he says.

In Mumbai, however, people are more willing to experiment and these include the independent youngsters who come here from the surrounding States. . "So they want to go out and be a part of what's happening in terms of fashion too," he says.

Close as he is to the glitterati of the country, hasn't designing for Bollywood blockbusters ever beckoned to him? "Well, film stars do wear my clothes all the time. But the film budgets are cheap and I can't design clothes that look good only on screen. Maybe a period film with a big budget might attract me," he laughs.

Bal has, however, essayed a role in Kaizad Gustad's Boom last year. "I didn't do the other movie Charas because the negative role I was supposed to play wasn't really significant. The character didn't really make any difference to the film. It wasn't necessary for me to do it since I'm a designer not a film hero! Besides the long shooting schedule would have taken a toll on my work," he says.

How far have Indian designers succeeded abroad? "Indian craft is well known, but though Indian fashion has been recognised abroad, it has not arrived in the West. We have no mainstream Indian designers who have made it as big as their Western counterparts. The reason is that you have to be a part of that attitude, culture and way of life to succeed there. But most Indians can't stop being emotional and attached to their country, so no one has stayed put abroad for long! The people who have made it are those who have always lived there! Alpana Bawa, Sandy Dalal and Anand John, for instance, have made some sort of mark with their own labels, own stores and a large following. Apart from these people there were only Hemant Sagar and a few others."

What is his biggest contribution as a designer since he set up shop in the 1990s? Is he happy with his achievements?

"I'm very happy. I have established that design is a respected profession and not frivolous, though it may seem so. It involves as much hard work as any other line. It's a service industry where you are always working ahead of time, and where you have got to look good, be knowledgeable, have a sense of style, have the power to convince people about your product and make them pay for it! You succeed only if you believe in yourself completely. There is no sustaining power if you just try to flatter people and take the short cut to success," he says.

What sustains his inspiration? "People always expect the best from me and that is the most inspiring thing that keeps me going," says the Kashmir-born designer.

The journey for Bal has been "full of hard work... even to get a good tan one has to work at it!" he grins. "Just be who you are! You are not going to be remembered for the money you've made, but for your kindness and contribution to society. I definitely don't want to be hated!"

His down-to-earth manner, sans airs, comes as a pleasant surprise. When this is mentioned, he laughs, saying"I don't have any complications nor want to make life difficult for anyone."

Picture by V.V. Krishnan

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication

Stories in this Section
Cosmopolitan Karachi

Net effect is a `meet-up'

No kidding!

Bengali films fight back

Crossing barriers

On Holy ground

Penang, ahoy!

The party has just begun

Haute stuff!

Quo Vadis, Sir Peter!