FASHION DESIGNER

Rocky S has made quite a name for himself in the fashion fraternity of India. Having an artistic mind and a flair for creativity, he moved against the normal flow of work and chose to make a name in the fashion world. The young and talented designer has renewed the way fashion is operated in India. His ingeniously created designs were not only creatively applauded, but also changed the trend in the industry. He brought an age of revival and this time, the revival was for clothes. After making a niche in the industry as well as a successful venture into the retailing forum, with the launch of his brand 'Rocky S', he has moved further, being the first Indian designer to launch a fragrance. Rocky S Noir Femme and Rocky s Noir Pour Hommes was unveiled by Arjun Rampal at Aurus Lounge.

An award-winning graphic designer and fine artist in India, Manali Jagtap moved to the United Kingdom in 2001. In 2002, she collaborated with scientist Sarah Angliss to create a 70 minute projection for the Thinktank, Birmingham that celebrated 50 years of innovation in science and technology during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The following year, she was part of the East Wing Collection, Courtauld Institute of Art. Jagtap’s paintings are abstract and deal with human dynamics. She works with mixed media and is not bound by any one topic or style. Through Urban Guru Ltd., Jagtap engaged in creative projects related to social and political issues. She worked with the Forum on Early Warning and Early Response and International Conflict and Security Consulting Ltd. on projects aimed at sensitising audiences on the impacts of conflict. Since 2010, her political artwork has spanned the interconnection between the politics of identity and identity politics (He can read, he can write, and he can shoot at Deptford X), transference projects (The Wishing Thread at the Telegraph Hill Festival), human rights in story-telling (Gagado's Ancient Tales in collaboration with Burmese artist, Htein Lin), and the politics of food (The Mahatma Thal). Manali Jagtap is also the founder of Artraker, an organisation that helps shape and inspire through visual art how people and organisations understand, engage and respond to conflicts.