It has taught me the difference between frivolous and niche, the principle of proportions, about getting the right length of a dress, the right depth of the neck, the right angle of the sleeve, the right placement for embroidery and beyond. Surprisingly, my happiest moments are when someone has put me on an aircraft. Arora launched China tuft embroidery machines Manufacturers his label in 1997 in India, debuted at London Fashion Week in September 2005 and started showing at Paris Fashion Week in 2007. It’s not our fault, we just started late and they are ahead in time. It’s about one hundred years since fashion took its place alongside literature, painting and music as a way to look for the social essence of an era Indian designer Manish Arora’s quick-witted way of conversing touches upon all the aforementioned theories as we sit down to congratulate him on being conferred with France’s highest civilian honour — Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur.The history of fashion is the history of longing. Ask him about his love affair with France and he quickly replies, "When I first went to France, I was hoping they would love me, but I never expected that they would embrace me.

 It’s only been nine years since I have been showcasing there and yet to be conferred with such a huge award and felicitation, makes everything overwhelming. But to be honest, India cannot be the next Paris. The ultimate cultural magpie, Arora grew in fame and has remained in orbit as a freelance personality with a strong conception of himself that exists beyond the labels he represents. He has a director’s eye for detail, for story and allure, which makes him stand out as our premier idea of what a brilliant fashion designer can be. The longer the journey, the merrier I become," he shares. He was a lightning rod of the 2000s sensibility, imbuing his designs with an essential sparkle and Pop Art accessibility. Nobody is born stylish, everybody wants to be a little memorable and some would like to be somebody else or more like the self they see in the better part of their minds.

 The West always looks towards the East and I’d love to be in the middle and grab the best of both worlds," he affirms. His celebrity clientele includes Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj. "Travel is a big part of who I am and my passport is bigger than any book that I have read. I take pride in taking my Indianness wherever I go because if I didn’t, I would be lost in the crowd.evolution should be constant. I’ll be very stupid to not take my country wherever I go. "I am essentially Indian when it comes to designing. Lastly, does he think India can ever be like Paris, the fashion capital "India is evolving a lot but it really needs to grow more and faster — in terms of technology, technique, finishing, ideas and also most importantly embracing and applying the concept of ‘being original’. Whether it’s coming up with ideas, outlook towards life, shaping up one’s personality. The designer believes that his collection only touched "the tip of the iceberg".