Ri Ritu Kumar

Ritu Kumar, the doyenne of India's fashion industry, began her fashion business in Kolkata in the 1960s. A student of art history, she accidentally stumbled upon fashion while studying museology. One day as her study trip took her to a village called Serampore in West Bengal, she met with a group of hand block printers who were without jobs as everything machine-made was quickly substituting handmade. The plight of these master artisans spurred her to provide them with an opportunity to earn. Her main focus was on natural fabrics and traditional printing and weaving techniques. She opened her first boutique store in 1966 in New Delhi, and since then, she has never looked back.

Ritu Kumar boutiques became synonymous with changing India that was ready to blend traditional designs with modern silhouettes. In the 1990s, she was dressing Miss India winners who went on to earn their titles in international beauty pageants. In 1991, Ritu Kumar held the ‘Tree of Life’ fashion show - India’s first fashion show. Besides block printing, the fashion show also highlighted innovations in slowly dying arts like Kalamkari and Chikankari Collection. By the end of the decade, in 1999, Ritu Kumar launched her book, “Costumes and Textiles of Royal India.” It celebrates the legacy of textiles through the costumes of Indian royalty.

The well-researched book became more than a coffee table book – it became a guide for fashion students. Her stores in Paris, London, and New York did booming business putting Indian fashion on the international map. Every international fashion house had come to know of the Ritu Kumar Label. With the change of the millennium, Ritu Kumar, in partnership with her son Amrish, in 2002, launched a brand called LABEL, the western pret brand for the young global Indian woman. The Padma Shri award conferred by the Government of India. When you wear a Ritu Kumar, it is not about the dress, it is about being a part of Indian history. It is priceless to own and dress in a Ritu Kumar ensemble.

Ri Ritu Kumar Sarees

From geometric prints to embroidery and from traditional to Ruffle Saree, Ritu Kumar sarees have a tale of their own. They have evolved without losing their essence to become heirloom pieces. Explore a wide range of Ri Ritu Kumar Handloom Saree here and get one today!

Ri Ritu Kumar Lehenga

When Ritu Kumar added lehengas to her collection of Ri Ritu Kumar sarees, it was a natural shift to extend the beauty of Indian textile art to yet another Indian outfit. With lehengas having grown in prominence at big fat Indian weddings, Ri Ritu Kumar Wedding Lehengas festivities have taken center stage.

Ri Ritu Kumar Gown

Make heads turn at a cocktail party in a Ri Ritu Kumar gown. Ritu Kumar Embroidered Gown have her signature style woven with tradition and tasteful elegance.

Related Designers:

Vikram Phadnis | Rohit Bal | Krishna Mehta | Sureena Chowdhri | Mrunalini Rao | Ritika Mirchandani | Arpita Mehta | Ranna Gill | Sawan Gandhi | Matsya

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