FDCI President Sunil Sethi on Rohit Bal's legacy: He was our national treasure

Fashion Design Council of India President Sunil Sethi, in an exclusive conversation with India Today Digital, reflected on the profound impact and legacy that Rohit Bal left in the fashion industry. The reverred designer died on November 1, following a prolonged illness.

In Short

• Sunil Sethi, President of FDCI, recalled late designer Rohit Bal's legacy
• Sunil addressed Rohit Bal as India's 'national treasure'
• He also said that Rohit wanted to do a show in Srinagar, Kashmir

In an exclusive interview with India Today Digital, Sunil Sethi, President of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), paid an emotional tribute to legendary designer Rohit Bal, who died recently. Remembered as one of India’s most creative and beloved designers, Bal’s influence spanned decades, inspiring countless young designers and setting an unmatched standard in Indian fashion.

Reflecting on the irreplaceable loss, Sethi shared, "Saare Hindustan ko pata chalna chahiye ki Rohit Bal dobara nahi aa sakta. Ek hi Rohit Bal tha, India ka sabse creative, sabse chahta aur mentor tha kitne young designers ke liye. Aur aaj wo humare beech mein nahi hai, humein iska itna afsos hai, bata nahi sakta." (The entire country should know that there will never be another Rohit Bal. He was India’s most creative and beloved designer, a mentor to countless young designers. Today, he is no longer with us, and I cannot express the depth of our grief.)

Sethi recalled Rohit Bal’s last show on October 13 this year, which he described as a memorable display of resilience and passion despite the designer’s health challenges.

"Agar aap dekhenge ki upar koi India ka designer hua hi nahi," Sethi remarked, "main 30 saal se Rohit ko janta tha aur aap yakeen maaniye ki Rohit jitna creative aadmi, attention to detail har cheez—music, model selection, guest selection, media selection—har cheez khud karta tha kyunki wo harfan maula tha. Ye national treasure tha humara." (There has never been a designer in India like him. I have known Rohit for 30 years, and believe me, his creativity and attention to detail were unmatched—everything from music to model, guest, and media selection. He was a master in every skill. He was our national treasure.)

Discussing Rohit Bal’s resilience, Sethi recounted how, despite experiencing back pain and health issues, Bal continued to pour his energy into his work. "Uski health theek nahi thi phir bhi 56 saal ke baad bhi show toh kiya," he said. "Aisa show jo sabke aaj tak se zyada... log ro rahe the dekhke Rohit ko ki dekhiye, abhi bhi kar raha hai." (His health wasn’t good, yet at 56, he still managed to deliver a show. It was a show unlike any other, with people moved to tears watching him and seeing his dedication.)

Sethi also spoke about their final conversation, discussing Bal’s dream of staging a fashion show in Srinagar. "Last conversation ye thi ki yeh show toh ho gaya ab agla show, main Srinagar mein karunga kyunki wo Kashmir ke the," he recalled. "Wahan ki boats pe show karenge aur hum toh har samay raazi the, kyuki waisa show toh humein kahi aur mil nahi sakta." (Our last conversation was about his next show, which he wanted to do in Srinagar because he was from Kashmir. He wanted to hold it on boats there, and we were always ready to support him, because you cannot find a show like that anywhere else.)

Rohit Bal’s passing has left an indelible void in Indian fashion, with his legacy remembered as a national treasure. His creativity, vision, and unmatched dedication to the craft will continue to inspire the fashion industry for generations to come.