PROFILE of Ritu Kumar : Ritu Kumar is one of India’s
foremost designers. She has developed a unique style of her own, reflecting the
ancient traditions of Indian craftsmanship in a contemporary vocabulary. With a
background in an art history and museology, which has enriched her horizons, Ritu
understanding of ancient designs and the innovative use of traditional crafts
has created a new classicism. Ritu, who began her work with four hand-block
printers and two tables in a small village near Calcutta forty years ago, was
the first woman to introduce the ‘boutique’ culture in.
Over the years, Ritu Kumar’s work as a fashion
designer has shown a progression, which has matured beyond textile crafts. She
has a unique ability to evolve with each collection into creative styling,
translating textures and embellishments into refreshingly new and unexpectedly
contemporary silhouettes, making her work particularly relevant from India’s
fashion point of worldview. Her book “Costumes and Textiles of Royal India”
published by Christies in October 1999 chronicles the history of textiles and
art design in India.Ritu has recently been awarded the 'Indira Gandhi
Priyadarshini award' for her achievements and contribution in the field of
fashion. Mother Teresa, Birju Maharaj, Pt. Hari Prasad were previous recipients
of this prestigious award.
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION of Ritu Kumar:
Ritu Kumar was born on 11 November 1944 in
Amritsar, Punjab. A native of Delhi, Ritu graduated from Lady Irwin College in
1964 and did her higher education from Briarcliff College, New York USA in
1966. The ace designer had a humble beginning in a small village, near Kolkata,
in 1960, with a set of hand block printers and two tables and today the
business has grown to retail from more than 35 stores across the country.
PERSONAL LIFE of Ritu Kumar:
Ritu Kumar is credited as being one of the
first Indian designers who was catalytic in bringing a contemporary idiom to
several ancient skills and has been a strong force in marketing them to a
dynamic modern India. Over the years, Ritu Kumar’s work as a fashion designer
has shown a progression, which has matured beyond textile crafts. She has a unique
ability to evolve with each collection into creative styling, translating
textures and embellishments into refreshingly new and contemporary silhouettes,
making her work particularly relevant from India’s fashion point of worldview.
While Ritu Kumar’s forte lies in traditional
Indian clothes that draw heavily on the textile and embroidery heritage of
India.She has also evolved another style for the young buyer, a collection that
in her words has “redefined traditional handwriting to meet the changing
needs of the new generation.” The inspiration of these garments is basic
Indian motifs, prints and embroideries but with the usage of a wide range of
western silhouettes mingled with Indian styles.
CAREER Related: Ritu Kumar began her career in 1969
with just four hand block printers and two tables in a small village near
Kolkata and today the brand retails from nearly 35 stores in India. She has
pioneered the term ‘fashion’ in the Indian context and more importantly has
demonstrated that hand-made products can be as profitable, and
even more glamorous than those made by machine. The company sources the finest
fabrics with great craftsmanship from across the country thereby contributing
to revival of Indian textiles and providing employment to hundreds of artisans.
