Manish Arora's Having a Good Year

From rave reviews for his latest collection (think Bollywood meets an acid flashback) to a recently launched eyewear collection to a newly announced collaboration with M.A.C Cosmetics, Indian fashion designer Manish Arora is having a very good year. We checked in with him over the phone from his studio in New Delhi to see how he's taking in all this success and how his year could possibly get any better.

You've gone from success to success with your label this year. Is it all a bit overwhelming?
It’s been incredibly exciting and crazy but very fulfilling at the same time. I am definitely enjoying every minute of it.

How did you celebrate the good news, especially your latest deal with M.A.C?
I was ecstatic to say the least. M.A.C to me is as big as it gets and to be able to collaborate with them is a great feeling.

Which collaboration/project has been the most fulfilling for you and why?
I don’t think I would be able to choose any one as with each I got to explore something so different. With "Fish Fry" for Reebok I got the chance to design footwear and active-wear, with Inspecs it’s my first collection of eyewear and now with M.A.C its makeup. All have been very satisfying and the response has been extremely positive.

Do you think these expanded lines/collaborations still reflect the spirit and feeling of your line?
Yes, I think all my collaborations have had a distinct sense of my design and where I come from creatively. I am inspired by life and color and that’s the feeling I like my collections to evoke.

Should your fans expect more collaborations and expansions from your label this year?
Besides the ongoing collaborations with "Fish Fry" for Reebok, Inspecs, and M.A.C, I have a limited edition range of watches I am designing for Swatch, so look out for those.

And since we're dealing with a New York audience, we'd love to know: Do you have any plans of launching a freestanding store here any time soon?
Hopefully, in the near future!

Finally, can you give us a hint of what we can look forward to from your Spring 2009 collection?
My new collection is inspired by the circus and has a lot of color and drama.