Indian fashion icon Rohit Bal no more

Rohit Bal, one of India’s most leading fashion designers who set trends by blending tradition with modernity in dresses, died last night at a south Delhi hospital following a heart attack, Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) President Sunil Sethi said.
Bal, 63, was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a private hospital in Gurugram near Delhi for cardiac issues in December last year. In October this year, he presented his collection at the Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI 2024 grand finale, reports our New Delhi correspondent.
“It’s true that he has passed away. He had a cardiac arrest… heart failure. Rohit was a legend, we are completely shaken right now. We are trying to work out details for the cremation tomorrow,” Sethi told PTI.
He had been admitted to Aashlok Hospital in Safdarjung Enclave and was being treated by Dr Alok Chopra, Sethi said. Doctors tried their best for two hours to revive him, a heartbroken Sethi added.
Bal was a founding member of the Fashion Design Council of India. Considered a trendsetter in the Indian fashion scene with designs that challenged norms, Bal was known for seamlessly blending traditional aesthetics with contemporary flair. Bal was also known for combining the cultural heritage of India with global fashion trends.
Born into a Kashmiri Pandit family in Srinagar on May 8, 1961, Bal is known for his works with materials such as velvet and brocade and his intricate designs are influenced by the opulence and majesty of India.
Having graduated from St Stephen’s College, Delhi, with a bachelor’s degree in History, Bal pursued a course in fashion at Delhi’s National Institute of Fashion Technology.