Rohit Bal closes WIFW in a grand way

It had actor Arjun Rampal walking the ramp, French footwear designer Christian Louboutin gracing it, singer Shubha Mudgal enlivening it and a display of range inspired by the Mughal gardens of Kashmir. The grand finale by ace designer Rohit Bal at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) spring-summer 2015 at a heritage site here was truly larger than life.

Bal, who is from Kashmir, presented his new collection "Gulbagh", inspired by the rich and the lush Mughal gardens in the valley.

Held at Quli Khan's tomb with Qutub Minar as its backdrop, models lit up the runway, which looked more like a court of the Mughals.

Donning lehengas with peplum blouses, embroidered jackets and saris, adorned with rose petals, women models looked very royal. The male models looked stunning too in mostly achkans and churidars.

With techniques like hand-block printing with vegetable dyes and gold leaf embossing, Bal used fabrics like chanderi, fine mulmul, matka silk and velvet for the new line.

Arjun, who walked as the showstopper, is no stranger to fashion shows, but he said it was "nerve-wracking".

Dressed in a black bandhgala and matching bottoms, he sashayed down the ramp adjusting his sleeves.

"I've done many shows, but the quality of this show...the experience is different. I think Shubha Mudgal was spectacular. It's the first time, I've walked on ramp with live aalap," he told reporters post show here Sunday.

"The sound, lighting, decoration and clothes took me to a different world," he added.

No wonder why Bal got standing ovation.

The five-day fashion extravaganza was organised by Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI).