Bibhu Mohapatra Stylises Global Crème De La Crème

The New York-based international fashion designer, who has dressed the likes of Michelle Obama and JLo, is known for his chic evening gowns. For him, luxury is the story of Indian craft.”

- PRIYA KUMARI RANA

WHEN HE LEFT INDIA in the mid 90s to pursue Masters in Economics at Utah on a scholarship, and then a fashion degree at FIT New York, little did Odisha-born Bibhu Mohapatra know that he would one day be one of India’s finest international fashion ambassadors. With his latest Fall 2024 showing at New York Fashion Week at The Pierre in Manhattan, where he had veterans, including supermodel Beverly Johnson sashaying down the runway in fierce-shouldered 1980s gowns, dresses, and pantsuits in cobalt blue, indigo, blacks and greys in a tribute to fashion photographer Helmut Newton, New York-based Bibhu has proven that he can create collections for global audiences, with an Indian heart.

“All my clothes are made in New York City,” says Bibhu, who famously cold-called fashion houses post his degree and bagged an internship at classic American fashion brand Halston, and then a job at furrier J Mendel. “All surface embellishments, embroideries, karigaris, beading, and threadwork are done by artisans of India, in Mumbai and Kolkata.” For the last 15 years, he’s been telling the story of Indian craft — that is what luxury is, he says. “There is a story in every yarn and fibre. My fabric comes from Japan or Italy. We bring it here and do the pattern work, then it goes to India, and the artisans do their magic, and then it comes back to New York. Whether we produce one piece or 25, we tell the story of every hand that produces it.”