Bibhu Mohapatra

Iconic New York-based fashion designer Bibhu Mohapatra grew up in Odisha, India before moving to the United States to pursue graduation and fashion design. In his collections, one can feel his Indian heritage through the revival of indigenous textile craft, bright colors and vegan materials. Mohapatra also collaborates with local communities in Odisha where he makes handcrafted jewellery and weaves. 

Bibhu Mohapatra was born in Rourkela, India. His early years, formed the expanding spirit of everything he sees and creates. His mother Sashikala, instilled in him at an early age a near obsession with handwork and textiles as well as a deep appreciation for making clothes that function and symbolize something powerful.

In his early twenties Bibhu immigrated to the United States where he earned a masters in economics from Utah State University and subsequently enrolled at Fashion Institute of Technology New York. In 1997 Mohapatra was awarded F.I.T. Critics' Award for Best Evening Wear Designer of the Year. This got him noticed by the top luxury fashion brands and, while finishing graduation at F.I.T. he was hired by Halston as assistant designer. 

In 1999, Mohapatra accepted the role design director of the French furrier J. Mendel where he repackaged the luxury label into a more youthful brand and expanded into ready-to-wear. The brand appeared regularly in the press and on the red carpet with Angelina Jolie, Sienna Miller and other style icons wearing his designs.

Following Spring 2008 J. Mendel collection, Bibhu resigned from J. Mendel in order to establish his own eponymous luxury label. The fashion designer has received numerous awards and is globally recognized for his elegant womenswear and jewellery. He has dressed former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama as well as some of Hollywood's elite including Glenn Close and Jennifer Lopez.

Vogue describes the couturier as 'Bibhu Mohapatra, Orissa-born designer, FIT graduate, Assistant Designer at Halston, Design Director for nine years at J. Mendel who finally launched his own label in 2009 Fall – is all about putting personality over fashion and individualistic style over image-enhancing brand mania. From designing for the stars like Cate Blanchett, Salma Hayek and Sienna Miller to being selected as part of the CDFA Fashion Incubator program, to receiving the Young Innovator Award from the National Arts Club, Bibhu is all set to take his fashion stakes a notch higher.'

Bibhu Mohapatra may live in New York but his body of work is rooted in Indian textile craft. He tells Vogue: "India, it’s my heritage, I can never have enough of Indian influences in my design. But sometimes I have to tone it down because I am trained in the west and my clients are from the west. In many subtle ways though, be it the fit, the drape or the colour, the jali work on modern materials- all of it, it’s very Indian. The juxtaposition of opposites is my design philosophy. Taking something old world to make something modern, or taking something very masculine to make it very feminine."

Mohapatra served as the primary costume designer for the Verdi opera Aida debuted during the 2012 Summer season at the Glimmerglass Opera in Cooperstown, NY. He was also invited to design costumes for the post-covid reopening of The Washington National Opera at Kennedy Center in Washington DC in 2021 in honor of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. 

How difficult is it to carve a niche? “It is extremely tough to stand out and say something important. But it isn't as much difficult if you have something new and exciting to say, through your work. What's tough is the commercial aspect of it. The nitty gritties, the real business side of it- that’s tough” he tells Vogue. "I am very hands-on that way. I take out the garbage at the end of the day; sweep the floors when I come in the morning. Every small thing is a part of the whole process and I love it. Finances, running the business - to me that is the biggest challenge of all."

On the charitable front, Bibhu has designed several collections of hand-woven silk sari to help the traditional hand weavers in his home state of Odisha in India. Bibhu is also co-founder of The India Society, a New York-based organization set up to assist students of fashion and fine art with tuition and internships at US based Universities.

Since 2016 Mohapatra launched a collection of diamond jewellery in India with ForeverMark -a division of Debeers. When he decided to launch the jewellery line Mohapatra visited his family home in Odisha and rummaged through his mother’s old jewellery box—finding inspiration in an heirloom gold kamarbandh. 

He tells Vogue: "Culturally, jewellery is so intricately woven into all our lives. As I was building my brand, I always knew that I wanted to learn jewellery design and its technicalities—gemstones, diamonds, and how they work with precious metals. But I had to do this with a strategic partner and build it slowly because luxury requires time. I have just completed ten years of my brand, and I am still building, reshaping and moulding it to stay relevant."

 The Bibhu Mohapatra label retails at select national and international boutiques including Bergdorf Goodman.

Hailing from Odisha in India, New York-based fashion designer Bibhu Mohapatra launched his eponymous luxury womenswear brand in 2008. His mission is to boost women's self confidence when they wear his apparel, accessories or jewellery. 

New York-based fashion designer Bibhu Mohapatra's body of work is rooted in Indian textile craft even though he tones it down to remain relevant with western sensibilities He tells Vogue: In many subtle ways though, be it the fit, the drape or the colour, the jali work on modern materials- all of it, is Indian in essence.

New York-based Indian couturier Bibhu Mohapatra retails ready to wear, haute couture and bridal wear. his evening gowns, cocktail dresses and outerwear are most popular. The fashion designer recently added jewellery to his repertoire. Inspired by the timeless brilliance of the Sun, Moon and Stars, Bibhu Mohapatra's first collection of fine jewellery - The De Beers Forevermark Artemis™ collection - was a hit.