Ritu Kumar is an Indian fashion designer. She is one of India’s most famous fashion designers; Serving the Indian fashion industry for over 40 years.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Ritu Kumar was born on Saturday, 11 November 1944 (age 75 years; as in 2019) in Amritsar, Punjab. His zodiac sign is Scorpio. She did her schooling from Loreto Convent, Shimla and went to Lady Irwin College, New Delhi to pursue her graduation. Ritu then received a scholarship to Briarcliff College in New York, where she studied art history. Subsequently, he enrolled at the Ashutosh Museum of Indian Art (at that time, a part of the University of Calcutta) to pursue museology.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 2″
Hair Color: Black
Eye colour: brown
family and caste
parents and siblings
Ritu Kumar belongs to a Hindu family. There is not much information about her parents and siblings.
husband and children
While at Lady Irwin College, Ritu fell in love with Shashi Kumar. The couple got married after dating each other for a few years. They have two sons, Amrish Kumar (CEO of fashion label, Ritu Kumar) and Ashwin Kumar (writer and filmmaker).
Ritu Kumar with her husband
Ritu Kumar with her son Amrish Kumar
Ashwin Kumar is the son of Ritu Kumar.
livelihood
Ritu Kumar started her career as a fashion designer in 1969. He started designing clothes from a small town in Kolkata using two small tables and hand-block printing technique.
Ritu Kumar at the beginning of her career
Initially, she designed evening wear and Indian bridal wear and eventually, carved a niche for herself in the international market.
Ritu Kumar’s models get ready for their first fashion show
After establishing herself as a successful entrepreneur, Ritu started expanding her business in India and abroad. Apart from owning several branches in the country, his company also opened several stores in countries such as New York, Paris and London. The London branch was closed in 1999 after operating successfully for almost three years. During the 90s, the annual turnover of his company increased to Rs. 10 billion, which was more than many other fashion outlets in India at that time.
Ritu Kumar with a weaver in Banaras
In 2002, Indo-Canadian director Deepa Mehta offered her to design clothes for the Canadian film “Bollywood Hollywood”. Subsequently, he launched his sub-brand “Label” in partnership with his son Amrish Kumar.
The same year, he launched “The Tree of Life” fragrance. He has also designed costumes for the film “No Fathers in Kashmir”.
No Fathers in Kashmir costumes designed by Ritu Kumar
award
- Lifetime Achievement Award by NIFT
- Lifetime Achievement Award by Kingfisher Group
- Outstanding Women Entrepreneur Award by PHDCC
- “Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres” (Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters) award given by the French Government in recognition of his contribution to Indian textile crafts and traditional techniques.
- Lifetime Achievement Award at Kingfisher Fashion Fantasia (2000)
- Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award
Ritu Kumar Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award
- Padma Shri Award (2013)
Ritu Kumar receiving the Padmashree award
- Delhi’s Most Stylish Award by Hindustan Times (2015)
Favourite Things
- Food: Chole Bhature, Pav Bhaji
- Travel Destination: New York
Facts/General Knowledge
- His hobbies include reading and travelling.
- She is one of the leading fashion designers of India.
- Ritu Kumar was born in a middle class family.
- Her parents broke the age-old taboo that girls should not be given adequate education, and advocated extensively for girls’ education in India.
- Ritu’s background in art history and museology led her to open a clothing line and apparel business.
- Ritu Kumar is the first person to start the boutique culture in India. He established his own boutique with the brand name “RITU”.
- In October 1999, Ritu published a book, “Costumes and Textiles of Royal India”, based on the history of art design and textiles in India.
Ritu Kumar’s book Costumes and Textiles of Royal India
- Kumar’s designs are primarily based on traditional printing and weaving techniques. She likes to use natural clothes.
- The only thing that makes their label unique is their intellectual and unique vision towards ethnic wear.
- It was Kumar who designed the wedding dress of Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan.
Ritu Kumar designed Kareena Kapoor Khan’s wedding dress
- Ritu often designs costumes for contestants of Indian pageants such as “Miss Universe,” “Miss Asia Pacific,” and “Miss India.”
- He designed some of the finest creations for the late Princess Diana.
- In an interview, when Kumar was asked about designing outfits for Bollywood films, he replied,
The way things are in Bollywood, I don’t think I have the time and patience for all this.
- Kumar has around 35 high-end fashion outlets in more than 14 cities across India.
Ritu Kumar’s first store inaugurated on Warden Road, Mumbai
- His son Ashwin Kumar is an Oscar nominated director.
- In 2019, his website, ritukumar.com, attracted 1,658,109 visitors in one year.
- Ritu has launched a video campaign “Beautiful Hands” in Kolkata, which encourages the purchase of goods and accessories made by indigenous artisans.
- As of now (2020), Ritu runs three fashion labels, namely, “Ritu Kumar,” “Ree,” and “Label Ritu Kumar.”
- Ritu is one of the founding members of the All India Artisans and Crafts Workers Welfare Association (AIACA).
- Kumar is credited with the revival of Zardozi, a flourishing art during the Mughal period.
- Their bridal collection mainly consists of zari, zardozi and other forms of embroidery work that uses precious metals.
- Ritu is fondly called the “Couture Queen” by her fans.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn