Rohit Bal, the nawab of Indian fashion, needs no introduction to those who are style savvy. Born in Kashmir, Rohit started his independent career in 1990 and hasn't looked back ever since. He is known internationally for his sophisticated cuts and comfortable fabrics, especially his bridal wear. He is a master at artfully integrating traditional and modern pattern. His designs reflect his own personality and are not restricted to any specific genre or style, but are more of a creative fusion. Let's have a look at his creative trends from 2013-2014.

The year that was: 2013

Everyone who's anyone in the bridal fashion industry participates in the India Bridal Fashion Week. And if you're Rohit Bal, you'll surely have a red carpet rolled out for you. The maestro wowed the crowd this 2013 with his exquisite collection titled 'The Mulmul Masquerade'. True to its name, the collection paid tribute to the Indian and Elizabethan eras of grandeur and opulence.

Rohit managed to reconstruct the era where aristocracy paired with coquetry were the flavour of the age. Rich, red, velvet coronation robes and high collars and corsets combined with intricate gold embroidery and side maang tikas showcased the beautiful blend of royal India and Elizabethan England. The outfits were a fusion of subtle fabrics such as Indian muslin and patterns such as Japanese Shibori tie-dye paired with rich velvet; these were stitched together to create grand, A-line, full-length Indian silhouettes. Usually a showstopper, this time Sonam Kapoor stopped a few hearts as well, adorned in a white muslin lehenga paired with Kashmiri gold embroidery like a true Mughal bride, quite symbolic of Bal's Kashmiri roots. All that can be said is that this ramp walk down memory lane was truly worth our wait for Rohit's entry into IBFW.

Looking ahead: 2014

Come 2014, Rohit made a big statement that he plans to make his designs more accessible to the common masses by collaborating with the online fashion portal, Jabong, to create a 48-piece ethnic collection. Priced at 5999 and upwards, it features the trendiest-styled anarkalis, lehengas, sarees, and churidar-kurtas. The collection is 'intrinsically Indian' and has his 'signature look' of embroidered motifs, block prints and bold patterns, in Rohit's own words. Top models Alesia Raut, Candice Pinto and Dipti Gujral walked the ramp for the master at a private fashion event to reveal the clothes line. Shraddha Kapoor turned showstopper in a simple, yet classy, blue-and-white floral print anarkali with a posh, gemmed headband.

After having designed for the likes of Uma Thurman, Cindy Crawford, Pamela Anderson, Naomi Campbell and Anna Kournikova, and practically every trendsetter in B-town, and creating outfits that have been sold at even 15,000 USD, Rohit has truly stepped away from his brand image and created a collection that the average Indian can afford. If you're looking for a designer ensemble this wedding season, I recommend high fashion at an affordable price. Three cheers for the fashionista!

Achievements:

Rohit has won many accolades and laurels in his career as a fashion designer. Best known for his use of lotus and peacock motifs, he has created a distinguishable trademark for himself in this day and age of infinite competition. Besides being a great designer, Bal is also an enterprising businessman and has collaborated with many renowned international brands, such as Hidesign, Oriflame, Mitsubishi Outlander and Windproof Zippo Lighter. He is also an ambassador for Omega watches and is sponsored by the Swatch Group.

There is so much more in his list of credits that it would take us all day to chalk out the biography of this seasoned couturier. He has been, and still is, one of the greatest contributors to the Indian fashion industry, and after his recent collaboration to reach out to the broader Indian audience, I daresay that he has made fashion more relatable to the public.