Manish Arora-- Known to play with colors

Manish Arora is one of the most well known designers of India. He has a huge number of followers and critically acclaimed awards. He is known for his unique play with colours, like his signature palette of pink and gold.

He is born and brought up in Mumbai. While he was studying he decided to enter the world of fashion and thus applied in the National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi. He graduated in 1994 and also won the Best Student Award. He started his own label ‘Manish Arora’ in 1997 and started retailing in India. Three years later in 2000 he participated in the first India Fashion Week held in New Delhi and represented India at the Hong Kong Fashion Week.

In 2001 he collaborated with Reebok and launched his second label called ‘Fish Fry.’ This line was created in collaboration with Reebok which featured sports wear. In 2002 he opened his first flagship store ‘Manish Arora Fish Fry’ in New Delhi. In the following year he opened his second store in Mumbai. He received a deal from the fashion house Maria Luisa in Paris after presenting a successful show at India Fashion Week (2003). This led to the start of an export business. In 2004 he received an award for ‘The Best Women’s Pret Designer’ at the first Indian Fashion Awards which was held in Mumbai. The next year he participated in the Miami Fashion Week (May 2005) where he was awarded the designer’s choice for ‘Best Collection Award.’ He presented his collection at the London Fashion Week (September 2005) for the first time, which received a positive response. In the same year in December he opened a new store at Lodhi Colony Market in New Delhi. Then he presented his work at an exhibition called ‘Global Local’ at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in association with the British Council, India. He was featured on the cover of a leading publication in India ‘Outlook’ in March 2006 and was also awarded the ‘Best Indian Fashion Designer’ by it’s fashion jury. He opened his first ‘Manish Arora’ store at Villa Moda in Kuwait and another ‘Fish Fry’ store at New Delhi. In 2007 with the make-up and cosmetics company MAC to design a signature collection. He also collaborated with a swiss watch company Swatch for designing a collection of limited edition watches. In the same year he also presented his collection at the Paris Fashion Week for the first time. In 2008 Reebok launched another ‘RBK Fish Fry’ collection designed by Manish Arora. By 2009 he owned 4 stores in India and sold his collections to more than 80 retailers in the whole world. He also entered into a Joint Venture with BIBA Apparels Pvt. Ltd to expand his label. In 2012 he collaborated with Amrapali Jewels and designed a jewellery collection consisting of pendants, hand jewellery and necklaces. Recently, he became the first Indian designer to be awarded the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour), the highest French civilian distinction in 2016.

Buy Manish Arora’s latest collection at Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop. Avail dresses, gowns, jackets, skirts, tops, t-shirts designed by him.

Sonal is a freelance stylish having over 11 years of experience in fashion industry.