Manish Kumar
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 27: “I was in Seventh Heaven,” quipped Bibhu Mohaptra, who got a rare and rewarding opportunity to fashion the costume that US First Lady Michelle Obama wore to India on her arrival in Delhi Sunday. This was not the first time he did this for the First Lady, though.
“I was in seventh heaven! It was such a moment of pride and joy for me … I felt that all my hard work has paid off. It was a true honour for me to have the First lady wear one of my outfits when she landed in my motherland, India,” Bibhu told Orissa POST, which contacted him Tuesday for his response.
Bibhu who hails from Rourkela spent a good 25 years in the state before shifting to the US for study and to pursue his career in fashion designing. He first earned a Masters in Economics from Jon M Huntsman School of Business at Utah state university in 1996, and then shifted to New York where he took a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
The black and white knee-length dress with blue floral motifs made by Bibhu tried to give Mitchell a unique look as she accompanied President Barack Obama for his three-day official trip to India. “Orissa is where I was born and raised. I spent 25 years of my life there, and all my family and a lot of my friends are there. I visit my place a few times a year,” he said.
Bibhu said this was not the first time the wife of the US President reposed her confidence in him. She had tried his designs in the past and was impressed. “She has worn my designs twice before this. First, it was when she appeared on the Tonight show with Jay Leno. Later, in October last, she wore a gown that I designed to the Annual Black Caucus Dinner in Washington,” Bibhu said with great pride.
Mohapatra had, in the past, also fashioned costumes for top celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Elisabeth Moss, Sonam Kapoor and Kareena Kapur, among other.
Bibhu at 42 is a bachelor. His close relatives including his brother, sister and brother-in-law live in Rourkela. His uncle Dr RN Mohapatra is a noted gynaecologist in the Steel City. He had his schooling at Ispat Vidyalaya, a management degree from the Rourkela institute of Management Studies (RIMS).
Bibhu’s father Chittaranjan Mohapatra, an engineer with RSP, passed away in December last. His mother Sashikala had died 10 years ago.
