(New York, NY – November 15, 2013) Exclusively.in, the world’s leading online retailer for Indian fashion, presents its first fashion show in the U.S. by none other than the acclaimed designer Manish Arora. Known for a rich palette of psychedelic colours and kitsch motifs in garments that combine traditional Indian crafts like embroidery, appliqué and beading with Western silhouettes, Arora’s clothing will grace the runway of the Indo-American Arts Council’s 15th Anniversary Gala, taking place on hursday, Nov. 21 from 6 p.m. onwards at the Angel Orensanz Foundation for the Performing Arts (172 Norfolk Street on the Lower East Side). This auspicious occasion will also mark the launch of Arora’s online store, www.manisharora.com, powered by Exclusively.in. Arora’s “Holi Holy” film will also premiere in New York at the IAAC’s 15th Anniversary Gala. The film celebrates widows from Varanasi, the holiest of the seven sacred cities in Hinduism and Jainism through holi color and a vivid, eye-catching collection.

“Showcasing Manish’s incredible Indo-Western collection at the same venue where Lady Gaga did her Vogue photo shoot and ‘Sex and the City’ star Sarah Jessica-Parker married Matthew Broderick is rather befitting,” said Exclusively.IN CEO Sunjay Guleria. “Manish is synonymous with Haute Couture, and we are so proud to be celebrating his line with the Indo American Arts Council’s loyal and sophisticated audience on the monumental occasion of its 15th anniversary.”

In addition to a surprise celebrity show stopper for the Manish Arora collection, the evening’sentertainment will also include the Oscar-wining duo: singer/songwriter/composer Paul Williams (Oscar winner with Barbara Streisand for “Evergreen”, Grammy and Golden Globe Hall of Fame) with pianist/composer Kenny Ascher, of “Rainbow Connection” (from The Muppet Movie) fame. The IAAC will honour three outstanding Indian-Americans, author Salman Rushdie, filmmaker Mira Nair and Dr. Manjula Bansal, for their commitment and contributions to the global artistic community. The emcee for the evening will be comedian Dan Nainan, and some of the celebrities presenting awards and walking the red carpet include: chef and author Madhur Jaffrey, actor Sarita Choudhury (Homeland), writer and filmmaker Sabrina Dhawan, actor Sakina Jaffrey (House of Cards), author, screenwriter, producer Tracey Jackson, tabla artist and musician Suphala, Consul General of India Dhyaneshwar Mulay, Ambassador Vijay Nambiar, Ambassador Manjeev Puri, actors Reshma Shetty (Royal Pains), Deep Katadare and Lisa Ray, just to name a few.

IAAC is the first and only Indian Arts Council in the United States representing all of the artistic disciplines, including theatre, dance, music, film, folk arts, literature and fashion. The IAAC pioneered the first annual Indian theatre, film, dance and playwright festivals in the country, as well as an annual travelling exhibition of contemporary Indian art. The IAAC’s programs attract packed audiences and amazing media coverage – ethnic, mainstream and international outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Variety, New York Daily News, NY1, CNN IBN, and Huffington Post, just to name a few.

“IAAC has been the perfect platform for nourishing and promoting Indian heritage, through the medium of performing arts, in our adopted homeland – the U.S.,” said Dr. Manjula Bansal, one of the honorees at the gala. “The IAAC has done invaluable work in creating a showcase for Indian Americans in many art forms. I'm delighted to have been a supporter from the earliest days,” said author and IAAC supporter Salman Rushdie. "Love and salaams to dynamic Aroon and the IAAC for bringing us our cinema for 15 years. Woo Hoo!" exclaims Mira Nair whose film Monsoon Wedding closed the first IAAC film festival.

Tables at the gala range in value from $5,000 to $25,000, and individual tickets are available for $500. For more information and to purchase your advance tickets, please visit .

For a quick 30-second look at the gala event, Click here. For the 15 years of IAAC promo video, Click here. Interviews and images are available upon request. Pre-event coverage of this event is encouraged.  

MEDIA CHECK-IN FOR A SPOT ON THE RED CARPET BEGINS AT 5:30 P.M. MEDIA RSVP IS REQUIRED FOR ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS.  

About The Indo-American Arts Council:The Indo-American Arts Council is a registered 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit, secular service and resource arts organization charged with the mission of promoting and building the awareness, creation, production, exhibition, publication and performance of Indian and cross-cultural art forms in North America. It is passionate about showcasing, celebrating and building an awareness of artists and artistic disciplines of Indian origin in the performing, literary, visual and folk arts.  For further information please visit .

Media Contact: JINGO Media - Jitin Hingorani at512.773.6679 or Jitin@Jingomedia.com
Media Contact: Peepul PR – Deepal Patadia at 917.716.3087 or Deepal@MyPeepul.com