Rohit Bal

Rohit Bal is intensely concerned with design as an art form. The designer draws on history, fantasy and folklore to create masterpieces that are desired by discerning aficionados around the globe. Rohit has a deep understanding of the psyche of the fashion world and it reflects in his collections that are intelligent, studied, imaginative and completely innovative yet always relevant and awe-inspiring. The celebrated designer graduated from the famed St. Stephens College in New Delhi with an honors degree in History. He then worked in his family’s export business for a few years, learning the ropes. In 1990, he launched his label and design line and there has been no looking back. He is a presence to reckon with the Fashion Design space in India.

Rohit Bal has been showered with awards and accolades in every design category possible and these have been from renowned publications and magazines like Vogue, Harper Bazaar, ELLE, Verve, Marieclaire. He has also received The Shiromani Award and the best menswear designer at the inaugural India Fashion Awards. Just this week he was felicitated with the award for Excellence in Couture and also inducted into the FDCI Hall of Fame. FDCI is the Fashion Design Council of India.

Rohit’s versatility as a design talent is on display in many efforts that have come to life.

Michelle Poonawaala

Michelle Poonawalla has been multifaceted, from a Director of the Poonawalla Engineering Group to a philanthropist and artist. She recently began her artistic career in 2016, which began with the specially-abled children at the Gateway school, since then she has had many shows from the Vis a Vis in Delhi, to the Jehangir Art Gallery Mumbai and recently the Immerse installation at the collateral at the Kochi Bienalle which has travelled internationally to Dubai at Alserkal Avenue and this September at the famous Saatchi Art gallery in London.

Priya Paul

Priya Paul, an Art collector and design aficionado, is Chairperson of Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels in India. She received the distinguished “Padma Shri” in 2012 by the president of India for her contributions in the field of trade and industry. Priya started her career under her father, the late Surrendra Paul, as marketing manager of The Park Hotel in New Delhi. She repositioned The Park Hotels as India’s first and only collection of contemporary luxury boutique hotels. Priya is also executive committee member and ex-president of the Hotel Association of India. She is a founding member of the World Travel and Tourism Council – India Initiative, and a Trustee of the India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) and chairperson, South Asia Women’s Fund, as well as a member of Harvard Business Schools’ India Advisory Board. A four-time nominee for Business Woman of the year by The Economic Times, Priya Paul received the FHRAI (Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India) Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2000, was recognized by Forbes Online as one of India’s 100 most powerful business women in 2006, and took home the Zee Astitva Award in the Business category in 2008. She has received the India Today Woman in Business Award and the PHD Chamber-Distinguished Women Entrepreneur Award. In addition, she has been named “Spa Personality of the Year” for the year and inducted into the FHRAI Hall of Fame. Priya has a BA in Economics from Wellesley College and has completed the Owner President Management Program at Harvard Business School.