Manish Arora exhibition: ‘Life Is Beautiful’
Renowned for dazzling designs in a rainbow of colors, Manish Arora has brought the talent and craftsmanship of India’s rich sartorial history to the global forefront, earning international acclaim on runways across three continents. Designing in India since the 1990s, he made his international debut in 2005 in London and just two years later began regularly showing at Paris Fashion Week. Arora’s glittering garments celebrate extravagant expressions of self through varied materials, techniques, and silhouettes in a triumphant union of Western and Eastern aesthetics adapted to today’s multicultural society with a touch of humor.
Arora’s global success speaks to the power of beautiful, well-crafted design. Combining the contemporary and the centuries-old, he originates wholly individual looks, bringing his vision to life for international clients and the world writ large. Arora’s unique designs have been worn by figures including Priyanka Chopra, Lady Gaga, Kate Moss, Aishwarya Rai, MIA, Katy Perry, Beth Ditto, Fergie, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, Kaia Gerber, Grimes, and others. His fashions have also been featured in Netflix’s Emily in Paris and on the covers of magazines like V, Interview, and Vogue India.
SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film invites visitors to immerse themselves in Arora’s world, where color reigns supreme, as they experience the designer’s three favorite emotions, “happiness, joy, and celebration,” key components in making life beautiful.
Life Is Beautiful is curated by Rafael Gomes, creative director of SCAD FASH museums.
About the artist
Considered India’s premier designer, Manish Arora studied at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi before establishing his label in 1997. Only three years later, he participated in India’s inaugural fashion week. Over the next decade, his designs attracted attention on international runways, and in 2007, he became the first Indian designer to show at Paris Fashion Week. Eventually entering the Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter des Couturiers et des Créateurs de Mode, Arora relocated to Paris. Beyond fashion, his experiences at Burning Man and a new path to spirituality led him in the direction of visual art for several projects.
After a yearlong stint as Paco Rabanne’s creative director starting in 2011, Arora turned his attention back to his own label, which continued to thrive. Throughout his label’s history, Arora has collaborated with Swarovski, Reebok, Swatch, Disney, My Little Pony, Paris Saint-Germain F.C., MAC, and Nespresso. He has also collaborated with renowned artists like Bharti Kher, Subodh Gupta, Keiichi Tanaami, and Sophie Calle for his collections. Arora’s designs have also been featured on the stage, donned by opera singers and even digitally rendered for ABBA’s holographic performances during their Voyage concert. In 2016, Arora became the first Indian designer to be conferred with the insignia of Chevalier de l’Ordre de la Legion d’Honneur by the French government. He continues to believe “pink and gold is my religion” while residing in Paris.
Images courtesy of the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film, Georgia, USA.