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Rohit Bal, one of India’s top fashion designers, dies of cardiac arrest at the age of 63

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Rohit Bal, one of India's top fashion designers, dies of cardiac arrest at the age of 63

Raymond Group chairman Gautam Singhania said he was heartbroken as he said goodbye to an “incredible friend”.

New Delhi:

Rohit Bal, one of India’s most renowned fashion designers, has passed away at the age of 63.

A friend of the designer told NDTV that Bal was in ICU a week before his last show in October. He was discharged and then admitted to Delhi’s Aashlok Hospital on Wednesday, where he died of cardiac arrest on Friday.

In a post on Instagram, the Fashion Design Council of India recalled the contributions of the fashion icon, also known as Gudda.

“We mourn the passing of legendary designer Rohit Bal. He was a founding member of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). Known for his unique blend of traditional patterns with modern sensibilities, Bal’s work has redefined Indian fashion and generations inspired, legacy of artistry and innovation along with progressive thinking will live on in the fashion world. Rest in Peace GUDDA,” the council wrote.

FDCI president Sunil Sethi said the designer will be cremated on Saturday.

“It is true that he has passed away. He had a cardiac arrest… heart failure. Rohit was a legend, we are in total shock now. We are trying to work out details for the cremation tomorrow,” Mr Sethi told news agency PTI.

Born in Srinagar, Bal started his career in 1986 and went on to become one of the biggest names in the Indian fashion industry. He won ‘Designer of the Year’ at the Indian Fashion Awards in 2006 and the Kingfisher Fashion Achievement Awards in 2001. In 2012, he was also named Lakme Grand Finale Designer.

After a battle with illness, the designer returned to the runway last month at the grand finale of Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI, where he presented his collection ‘Kaaynaat: A Bloom in the Universe’. Lakme’s brand ambassador, actor Ananya Panday, walked the ramp as a showstopper in a signature ensemble by Rohit Bal.

Raymond Group chairman Gautam Singhania mourned the designer’s death, calling him an “incredible friend”.

“My heart is broken to say goodbye to an incredible friend. You brought so much light, laughter and kindness into the lives of everyone around you. I am grateful for every moment we shared, every laugh, every conversation. You will continue to be missed become words, but your spirit will live on in all of us. Rest in peace, my friend,” he wrote in a post on X.

Journalist Vir Sanghvi said the world without Ball is a poorer place.

“RIP Rohit Bal. Gone way too soon. A king among designers. A prince among men. He was famous for over thirty years. But he never stopped being an ordinary man, always ready with a smile, always a first friend and a creative genius second to none. The world is a poorer place without him,” said Sanghvi.