Manish Arora

Manish Arora is an Indian fashion designer based in New Delhi. In early 2011, he was appointed creative director of the womenswear collection of the French fashion house Paco Rabanne, although he left the company in May 2012.

Born and brought up in Mumbai, Manish was studying, 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.

Career

In 1997, Manish launched his own label "Manish Arora" and started retailing in India. Three years later, he 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. The designer has also entered into a joint venture with BIBA Apparels Pvt. Ltd. to further expand the label.

In 2007 the designer began showing collections in Paris Fashion Week, and in 2009 Arora was inducted into the Chambre Syndicale du Prêt à Porter des Couturiers.

In 2012, Arora previewed his jewellery line in association with label Amrapali comprising a range of hand jewellery, neckpieces and pendants. Other collaborations include a 2008 project with MAC cosmetics and a 2009 project with Swatch, as well as several projects with Swarovski.

Some of his work was displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum, in the Fabric of India 2014-15 Exhibition.

In 2020, Arora closed his brand.

In 2024, the designer partnered with SCAD FASH to mount the exhibition "Manish Arora: Life is Beautiful," a career retrospective drawn from the designer's archive and highlighting his brand and collaborations. He was also included in the Texas Fashion Collection's permanent collection and in the 2024 two-part exhibition "Labor of Luxury: Embroidery from India to the World."

Style Manish Arora is regarded by many as "the John Galliano of India". He is known for his psychedelic colour palette and kitsch motifs in garments that combine traditional Indian crafts like embroidery, appliqué and beading with Western silhouettes.