A curtain call for a legend: Rohit Bal’s spirit lives on at India Couture Week

At the grand finale of India Couture Week in New Delhi, an elite lineup of India’s most celebrated designers—Suneet Varma, Isha Jajodia, Jayanti Reddy, Rahul Mishra, Amit Agarwal, and JJ Valaya—unveiled their most opulent creations to a handpicked audience. Each show was a spectacle of craftsmanship, creativity, and showmanship. But amidst all the shimmer and show, one presentation resonated on a deeper note—an emotional tribute that transcended fashion. It was the show of the late Rohit Bal.

This wasn’t just another fashion showcase. It was a celebration of an extraordinary life—a final bow for a man whose every runway appearance felt like theatre, whose presence could electrify a room with a dance, a smile, or simply his aura. Even last year, frail with illness, Rohit Bal insisted on dancing down the runway, refusing to let his condition dim the light he brought to his art. It would be the last time.

This year, as the lights dimmed and the first model took the stage, the absence was palpable. But so was the presence—his spirit breathed through every thread of the collection, ‘Kash-Gul’. Inspired by the poetic soul of Kashmir and the lush dream of a ‘Gulistan’ (garden of flowers), the collection—crafted by his long-time team member and the brand’s Creative Director Fraze Tasnim—was both a homage and a promise. “Fraze has been with Rohit for many years,” said Anila Bal, the designer’s sister-in-law. “He understands Rohit’s sensibilities so deeply. Watching the collection unfold felt like he was still with us.”

Set in ivory, black, and wine, the pieces were spun from chanderis, matka silks, and velvet—each layered and rich with hand-done zardozi and thread work. It wasn’t just a collection. It was a whisper from the past, and a bold step into the future—a symbolic ‘next chapter’ for the Rohit Bal brand.

India's fashion scene, where labels often live and die with their creators, has rarely seen a moment like this—where a house continues its legacy with such clarity of vision after its founder’s passing. Naturally, questions loomed about the future of the brand. But the grace and power of ‘Kash-Gul’, curated under the careful guidance of Tasnim, has silenced the sceptics.

“I’ve worked with Mr. Bal for 12 years,” Tasnim shared. “I know where his heart was, and what moved his soul. I remember, just before Kaaynaat last year, he called me over. He said, ‘Take it all over, take the lead—music, decor, choreography, the guest list… everything.’ It was as if he knew he wouldn’t be here for this one.”

Ayas, another pillar of the team, who began as a graphic designer over two decades ago and now leads design and print, echoed this sentiment. “Working with Rohit Bal ji was never just a job—it was living a vision. After he passed, our responsibility grew, but with Fraze’s direction, we’ve honoured him the only way we know how: by keeping the magic alive. ‘Kash-Gul’ is a tribute to his first love—Kashmir.”

Every applause, every look, reminded everyone that it wasn’t just showing a collection. It was telling a story. His story.