Rohit Bal to display Kashmir's quintessence at WLIFW

From red roses to lush greenery, ace designer Rohit Bal's upcoming Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring Summer 2015 collection 'Gulbagh' is inspired by the rich landscape of Kashmir Valley.
Rohit will close the five-day fashion week (October 8-12) with his ready-to-wear ensemble soaked in different shades of red and floral designs.
"My collection is about Kashmiri flowers and the beauty of nature in Kashmir. The lush and absolutely delicious flowers in the Mughal Garden of Kashmir are my inspiration for this ensemble. I have tried to bring in the essence of the Valley.
"When I think of Kashmir, I think of flowers in hues of red and other colours. It is for me a bed of roses hence I have given the name 'Gulbagh'," the designer told PTI at a preview of his finale exhibition.

The models were seen in bright-coloured lehangas and sherwanis, which had a tinge of Rohit's favourite colour, ivory, and their accessories like 'maang tika' and earrings made of fresh red roses became one of the highlights of the collection.
"Ivory will always be there in everything I do and this time I have taken the beauty of red, its different shades like orange and flame and put them on ivory and it has become more dramatic. I am also trying to bring red back into the prominence," he said.

The designer adds he has tried to make a simple collection, departing from the usual intense and heavy finale display, to make it look appealing to the masses.

"My collection's highlight is its simplicity and I have consciously tried to not make it heavy and serious. It is dramatic enough for a fashion week finale but at the same time something which can be worn by everyone. It is affordable too.
"My approach has been different from how others do a finale show. It has been a great challenge for me to balance simplicity with attractiveness," Rohit said.
The designer also says he has stuck to his usual handloom fabrics like muslins, raw cotton, chanderis, matka silk and khadi.
"I can't go for crapes and georgette or chiffons. That's not my style so I stick to what I like," he said.

Rohit considers this collection special as he feels it transcends all seasons.
"It feels wonderful to show uninhibited creativity and express myself through 'Gulbagh' as it transcends all seasons and reflects my sense of aesthetics without any constraints," the designer said.