Fashion Designer Ritu Kumar

 Ritu Kumar is synonym of the Indian fashion industry; she created inroads to the world of fashion with her own recipe of blending tradition and modernity to produce the finest example of the work of art. Ritu Kumar was born in Amritsar, Punjab on November 11, 1944 and graduated from the Lady Irwin College, New Delhi in the year 1964, later on she went to Briarcliff College, New York, United States of America in 1966 for higher studies. In the late 60s Ritu Kumar began her venture with a couple of hand block printers and two tablets in a small village near Kolkata, with the passage of time they produced some of the India’s most exquisite garments and accessories in cotton, silk and leather. These ranges embrace beautifully both traditional textile crafts and the lineage of Indian design culture.

Ritu has demonstrated quite effectively that hand made products can be even more glamorous than those produced by the machines. Ritu Kumar’s specialty is traditional Indian clothes, that depict heavily the textile and embroidery heritage of India and remains models of their own kind. She has developed different style for European buyers. Her Indo-West fusion wear has all the paraphernalia of block prints, embroidery and craft inputs on a western style. Ritu Kumar presented India’s rich cultural heritage before the whole world in such a way that it would be useful to the Indian craftsmen and the modern customers worldwide simultaneously.

The design philosophy of Ritu Kumar is based on the principle that everything established on good visual designs can move across all borders whether they are geographical, cultural or otherwise. Ritu has been regularly designing the wardrobes for the Indian beauty pageants comprising swimwear, evening wear, traditional Indian wear, casual wear and formal evening gowns. Some of her global achievements include the wardrobes for the Miss India, for participation in the International beauty pageants like Miss Universe, Miss World & Miss Asia Pacific respectively. Many times she has won the award for the Most Outstanding Evening Gown in International pageants.
 
Presently, Ritu Kumar has established outlets in all major cities in India. These boutiques presents you with a comprehensive showcase encircling the very best of Indian design, with specially produced range of high fashion garments and accessories using silk, leather and cotton. Her range of Indo-West fusion wear is all about tradition and individual talent, and women across the continents can easily identify with her vision of design. International icons such as Late Princess Diana, and Jemima Khan wore her outfits, putting her designs on the world map. Ritu Kumar has also written a book titled ` Costumes and Textiles of Royal India` that is published by Christie`s of London.

In April 2002 Ritu Kumar launched her new sub brand, LABEL. LABEL brand was mainly created to cater the woman of the present time, who is more and more self-determining, sharp and universal. This brand has a universal appeal aimed at the modern lifestyle. This brand is highly fashionable, affordable and offers very high quality of products.  She has participated in various fashion shows and still continues to do so off and on. Ritu Kumar has been awarded many a times by different organizations like the Lifetime Achievement Award by NIFT, Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur Award by PHDCC and Lifetime achievement award at the Kingfisher Fashion Fantasia, July 2000 in Bangalore.