Rohit Bal prefers India over West!

This Kashmiri Pandit fashion designer may have left the paradise land, but he has kept the beauty of Kashmir alive with his designs. For almost three decades, designer Rohit Bal, also called Gudda, has been adorning Indian fabrics and linen cotton with embroidery. Gudda says, “I  believe that instead of imitating the West, I should use Indian elements so strongly in the product that the West will want to imitate us. Being culturally so versatile and enriched — right from the kind of fabrics, to colouring and dying patterns and of embroidery varieties — we have more resources than anyone else could possibly have. So then why look for inspiration outside.”

Having represented India on a global platform, Gudda prefers to make the exotic locales more exciting with Indian designs. He says, “Whenever I’m approached to make celebrity outfits for special events abroad, I prefer making garments that speak of our rich heritage in as stylish a manner as I can. So be it Deepika’s (actor Deepika Padukone) sari or Arjun’s (actor Arjun Rampal) Jodhpuri and Bandhgala at Cannes. The West should know that the Indian sense of clothing is evolving without aping them.”

Though he is close to most of B-towns celebs, Gudda is not keen to do clothes for films. “I will do clothes for their personal wardrobe or occasions, but except Mr. B (actor Amitabh Bachchan) for KBC, I haven’t done a full-fledged wardrobe for any films or TV show. As a designer, I don’t just work on designs. These garments are my babies, and I can’t just produce them overnight. I can’t compromise on quality at any cost,” adds Rohit.