/ Arora Borealis: Manish Arora Lets Us Into His Galaxy Of Fearless Fashion

by Anokhi Admin

Arora Borealis: Manish Arora Lets Us Into His Galaxy Of Fearless Fashion

Oct 02, 2014

Manish Arora does a lot of everything. He’s designed jewelry, watches, eyewear and even home accessories. The Delhi-based fashion designer has participated in London Fashion Week and showcased at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The first Indian designer to show at Paris Fashion Week, Arora was also invited to exhibit at the Palais Royal in Paris. And his creations have been adorned by the likes of Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.

Arora’s creations are psychedelic and provocative and with their international appeal, he’s made a mark globally. “It is a lovely feeling to be recognized and loved by people around the globe,” says the 42-year-old. “Being an Indian and getting an opportunity to showcase my talent on the international platform is something I am very proud of. I’m glad I can keep my country’s heritage alive in my work,” he says.

The designer launched the Manish Arora label in 1997 after graduating from the National Institute of Fashion Design in Delhi. Soon after, he stepped into the national market and quickly gained significant recognition. His vibrant designs became extremely popular and Indian stylists loved him. He later expanded to international markets and by 2006, his pieces were available in 75 stores worldwide.

“My kind of fashion — fun, quirky and, at times, totally wild — is perfect on the international fashion circuit, thus, my foray into this area was seamless,” he says. “I have not only created a brand name for myself but also hope sincerely that, in a small way, I have taken my country to another level on the fashion circuit.”

His career took a very important turn in 2011, when he was appointed creative director for the iconic French fashion house Paco Rabanne. While the world thought he would continue in Paris for some time, Arora moved out after two successful seasons of collections to pursue his own interests and focus on his brand Indian by Manish Arora, which he created soon after heading back to India. The brand focuses on Indian contemporary wear which is often embroidered and embellished by traditional craftsmen.

Arora has dabbled in several product designs and they are as theatrical as his clothing lines. “Fashion is something that does not stop at clothes; it branches out into many aspects beyond that,” he says. “I want to tap as many potential avenues as possible to take my creativity to another level.”

Arora has designed limited-edition crystals for Swarovski, linen for Portico, eyewear for Inspecs and merchandise for Mercedes-Benz. He decorated Nespresso’s boutiques and flagship stores and designed their uniforms and even a coffee machine. Recently, he joined forces with Amrapali, a leading Indian luxury jewelry brand, to create a colourful palette of contemporary jewelry. “All my collaborations have been beautiful and special,” Arora says. “They have all challenged my creative skills and pushed me to go beyond my own expectations.”

Arora’s designs almost always unleash a riot of colours. “I love playing with various tones and shades, mixing and matching them to create something stunning.” He is sure he will continue creating flamboyant designs for his customers not only because it is something he loves, but also because it makes a lot of business sense for him. A large number of his customers from Asian and Middle Eastern countries buy his collections for their vivacious colours. “But yes, monochromes are also on my mind and will hopefully be seen soon in my collections,” he says.

The wild riot of colours seen in his creations has its roots in Indian culture. “I’m an Indian who loves colours and fashion. There’s no doubt that the culture and art of my country have inspired me greatly,” Arora says. The designer also draws inspiration from his travels — an influence that can be seen in his collections. But inspiration doesn’t stop there. “I am inspired by various things in life which I try and incorporate into my garments in many ways.”

Arora has lived in India and France and both countries are special to him. “Paris, known globally as the fashion hub, definitely is a place where my clothes are not only recognized but loved by all, making this one of my favourite places to showcase my collections,” he says.

So, what’s his fall trend alert for women in Canada? “Experimenting with colours is something that I recommend as a trend to follow this fall,” Arora says. “Canada is beautiful and its beauty can be enhanced with its women adorning lovely colours.”

BY PRITI SALIAN

_{PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MANISH ARORA}