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New Delhi, May 2: Star designer Rohit Bal, struck the right 'Balance' between creativity and sensuousness as he lived up to the expectations and presented a very individualistic collection at the Lakme India Fashion Week.

Reflecting a strong influence of history and the tug-of-war between freedom and bondage, Bal's collection of menswear including pure white cable-knitted full length jackets, skirts and pants also had a range of black dhoti inspired wrap-flap pants and elaborately embroidered jackets in brown and burnished red.

Magnificent capes and ponchos, crocheted wraps were used as accessories.

The use of bird motifs as embellishment with strong soaring Navajo eagles and hens embroidered and printed was outstanding.

The jackets were made of richly coloured pink, orange, blue and multi-hued quilted silk brocades were embroidered to princely perfection with fine silver and gold threads. Teaming of the jackets with massive crinkled skirts balanced out the overtly masculine sexiness with feminine elegance.

The range also included some tribal red and black pants and jackets.

The sense of bondage was created by the regular use of a multitude of long leather straps and silver buckles which was countered by the display of bold bare-chested males who walked the ramp amidst loud rounds of applause.

(PTI)

His affair with the media has been long-standing and passionate. Never, it seems, has one man been the focus of the attentions of so many. Reams of adulatory print continue to roll off the presses as he unveils one collection after another, each one more fantastic than the last.

Intensely concerned with design as an art form, he draws upon history, fantasy and folklore to create his masterpieces, which retail for up to 15,000 USD. These are gone before you know it, snapped up by the discerning and needless to say, the wealthy. So completely does he seem to have understood the psyche of the target consumer, that fashion pundits credit him with setting the trend for every season. His address to the fashion scene is intelligent and studied, yet imaginative and inspired.

Graduating from New Delhi's St. Stephen's College with a first class (Hons.) degree in History, the compulsive designer worked for a few years with his brother's export company. In 1990 he created his first line, traditional designer wear for men and the rest, indeed, is history.

The 34-year-old designer's sense of aesthetics is finely honed, and each of his creations is handcrafted to perfection, with meticulous attention to detail. He has access to the best the industry has to offer in terms of materials and workmanship. From villages where local craftsmen weave dreams with magic fingers, to factories, workshops and outlets where retailers jostle for survival, to the opulent grandeur of glitzy boutiques and malls at the best addresses in the big cities of high fashion, Rohit Bal can lead one to the doors of discovery, and he holds the key.

(HT)

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