Manish Arora
“Always remember, you are only as good as your last collection.”
Q. What led you take up fashion as a career? Did you always know that’s what you wanted or was it something that happened out of the blue?
A. Fashion was accidental. I’d never thought I’d end up as a fashion designer. I use fashion as a platform for my art. Moving away from my commerce degree and getting enrolled at NIFT, Delhi in the 90' s was the turning point. From there on in, it has always been about creativity, art and design.
Q. What would you consider the one event that was your ‘ big break’ into the world of fashion?
A. The year I spent working with the Spanish fashion legend, Paco Rabanne was a game changer for me. Q. What’s your personal fashion style?
A. My designs are an extension of myself. I put my heart and soul into every collection. But my personal style is completely different. I like to dress neat and crisp and sport black and other dark shades as much as possible.
Q. What does the Delhi Couture Week mean to you?
A. It is a sort of homecoming for me. This is my first runway show in India after a three year break and it feels good to showcase my Paris collections here. My collections are prêt- àporter but it has consumed as much energy and time as designing couture would do.
Q. Has the line been inspired by something or somebody?
A. My inspirations are from all over the place. Anything from India POP and Warriors that were the themes behind my work in 08- 09 to Graffiti Art and ‘ The joy of living in the 60’ s,’ which was what motivated my latest designs. Photographs by CHANDERDEEP Hybrid KUMAR/ animals, www. indiatodayimages. magic, com the circus— all these have been sources of inspirations for my creations over the last few years. The designs I displayed here this time around are a retrospective of my collections which I have showcase in various Paris Fashion Weeks.
Q. If you have to have a ‘ fashion ideology’ what would it be?
A. Always remember, that you are only as good as your last collection. You have to constantly surpass your own capabilities in order to create designs that are of value in today’s competitive market.