Manish Arora

Manish Arora
Residence	New Delhi, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Fashion designer
Labels	Manish Arora, Fish Fry, Paco Rabanne

Model in a Manish Arora design (Spring 2007 collection) at London Fashion Week

Manish Arora (Hindi:मनीष अरोरा) (Punjabi: ਮਨੀਸ਼ ਅਰੋੜਾ) is an Indian fashion designer based in New Delhi. In early 2011, he was appointed as creative director of the womenswear collection of the French fashion house Paco Rabanne. ^[1]

Early life and education

Born and brought up in Bombay (now Mumbai), Manish was studying to graduate in Commerce, when he decided to change his career path and applied for the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi. He graduated in 1994 after winning the Best Student Award.^[2]

Career

Model in a Manish Arora design (Spring 2007 collection) at London Fashion Week

In 1997 Manish Arora launched his own label "Manish Arora" and started retailing in India.^[2] Three years later, Manish participated in the first-ever India Fashion Week held in New Delhi and represented India at the Hong Kong Fashion Week.

Arora launched his second label, "Fish Fry", in 2001.^[3] This colorful, sportswear-styled line was created in association with the athletic apparel manufacturer Reebok.^[4] During 2002 Manish opened his first flagship store, Manish Arora Fish Fry, in New Delhi and in the following year opened a second store in Mumbai. Another successful showing at India Fashion Week (2003) led to a stocking deal with the fashion house Maria Luisa (Paris) and the beginning of a successful export business.

During 2004 he was awarded the Best Women's Prêt Designer at the first ever Indian Fashion Awards' 2004 held in Bombay and MC2 Diffusion Paris started representing the label for the export business. The following year Manish participated in the Miami Fashion Week in May 2005 where he was presented with the designer's choice for Best Collection Award.

He had a successful debut at the London Fashion Week in September 2005 and received an overwhelming response from the press as well as the buyers. He opened a new store at Lodhi Colony Market in New Delhi in December 2005. Arora exhibited some of his work at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London for an exhibition called "Global Local" in association with the British Council, India.

A fashion jury in a leading Indian publication Outlook designated him "Best Indian Fashion Designer" and featured him on the cover of its March 2006 issue. Manish opened his first Manish Arora franchise store in Villa Moda, Kuwait and another Manish Arora Fish Fry store at Crescent at The Qutub, New Delhi in 2006.

In 2007 the first Fish Fry for Reebok concept store opened at the Garden of Five Senses, New Delhi, and Arora teamed up with make-up and cosmetics giant MAC for designing a signature collection. He has also collaborated with Swatch for a limited edition of watches. In 2008, once again, Reebok launched the 'RBK Fish Fry Collection 2008', an exclusive lifestyle range designed by Manish Arora.

"Indian by Manish Arora", a brand designed for the growing Indian market for women's wear, is licensed to another fashion company. Manish was invited to show his collection at the “Fashion in Motion” exhibition held at Victoria and Albert Museum, London in September 2007.^[2] By 2009 Manish owned four stores in India and sold his collections to more than 80 retailers worldwide.^[3][5]

Style

Manish Arora is regarded by many as "the John Galliano of India".^[6] He is known for a rich palette of psychedelic colours and kitsch motifs in garments that combine traditional Indian crafts like embroidery, appliqué and beading with Western silhouettes.^[4]

See also

• Fashion Week

References

1. ^ Milligan, Lauren (2011). "New Beginning". Vogue (Condé Nast) (4 February 2011). http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/110204-manish-arora-the-new-creative-direc.aspx. Retrieved 29 July 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Fashion in Motion: Manish Arora". Victoria and Albert Museum. September 2007. http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion/fashion_motion/manish_arora/index.html. Retrieved 29 July 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Heal, Patricia (November 2009). "Dream Weaver". W (Condé Nast) 38 (11): 76. http://www.wmagazine.com/fashion/2009/11/manish_arora. Retrieved 29 July 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Style: Manish Arora". The New York Times. October 26, 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/26/style/26iht-luxury08-arora.18172914.html. Retrieved 29 July 2011. 
5. ^ Suzy Menkes (March 24, 2009). "Where the Accent Is on Craft". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01EEDF123BF937A15750C0A96F9C8B63&scp=3&sq=Manish%20Arora&st=cse. Retrieved 29 July 2011. 
6. ^ Hilary Alexander (March 26, 2007). "Stars of India blazing a stylish, global trail". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1546733/Stars-of-India-blazing-a-stylish-global-trail.html. Retrieved 29 July 2011. 

External links

• Manish Arora's website
• Manish Arora's Profile
• Manish Arora – designer profile at Fashion Model Directory
• "Photographs from Manish Arora catwalk show at the V&A.". Fashion, Jewellery & Accessories. Victoria and Albert Museum. http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion/fashion_motion/manish_arora/index.html. Retrieved 2007-10-20. 

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