Remembering Rohit Bal

Bazaar India pays tribute to the designer's enduring impact on the fashion world.

- ISHNU BANDYOPADITY

Rohit Bal’s journey in the fashion industry is one for the books. On November 1, the legend took his final bow.

The late 1980s in India whispered of change, a sartorial awakening. While the timeless grace of saris and salwar kameez held sway, a bold new generation of designers emerged, their collections boasting vibrant hues and daring silhouettes. They danced on the edge of tradition, weaving in threads of Western influence. Power dressing emerged in leaps, with women embracing sharp shoulders and tailored suits—a symphony of strength and femininity.  The world’s catwalks beckoned, and India answered with puffed sleeves, audacious prints, and highwaisted trousers, a lexicon of style rewritten.