Ritu Kumar is an Indian fashion designer. He is one of the most famous fashion designers in India; has been serving the Indian Fashion Industry for more than 40 years.
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 in New Delhi to further her studies. Ritu, then got a scholarship at Briarcliff College in New York where she studied Art History. After that, he enrolled himself at the Asutosh Museum of Indian Art (at that time, part of Calcutta University) to pursue Museology.
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 2″
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Family & Caste
Parents & Siblings
Ritu Kumar belongs to a Hindu Family. Not much is known about his parents and siblings.
Husband & Son
While at Lady Irwin College, Ritu fell in love with Shashi Kumar. The couple tied the knot after dating for several years. Together they have two sons, Amrish Kumar (CEO of fashion label, Ritu Kumar) and Ashvin Kumar (Writer and Filmmaker).
Ritu Kumar with her husband
Ritu Kumar with her son, Amrish Kumar
Ritu Kumar’s son Ashvin Kumar
Career
Ritu Kumar started her career as a fashion designer in 1969. She started designing clothes using two small tables and hand block printing technique from a small town in Kolkata.
Ritu Kumar at the beginning of her career
Initially, she designed Indian evening wear and bridal wear and eventually, created a niche for herself in the international market.
Model Ritu Kumar dresses up for her first fashion show
After establishing herself as a successful entrepreneur, Ritu started expanding her business in India and abroad. In addition to having several branches in the country, his company also opened many stores in the country, such as New York, Paris and London. The London branch was closed in 1999 after operating successfully for around three years. During the 90s, his company’s annual turnover rose to Rs. 10 billion, which was higher than many other fashion stores in India at that time.
Ritu Kumar with a weaver in Banaras
In 2002, the Indo-Canadian director, Deepa Mehta, offered her to design costumes for the Canadian film “Bollywood Hollywood.” After that, he launched his sub-brand “LABEL” in collaboration with his son, Amrish Kumar.
In the same year, he launched the fragrance “The Tree of Life.” He has also designed the costumes of 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 Female Entrepreneur Award by PHDCC
- Award “chevalier des arts et des lettres” (knight of the order of arts and letters) awarded by the Government of France in recognition of his contribution to Indian textile crafts and traditional techniques
- Lifetime Achievement Award at Kingfisher Fashion Fantasia (2000)
- Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award
Priyadarshini Ritu Kumar Indira Gandhi Award
- Padma Shri Award (2013)
Ritu Kumar received the Padma Shri Award
- Most Stylish Delhi Award by Hindustan Times (2015)
Favorite Things
- Food: Chole Bhature, Pav Bhaji
- Travel Destination: New York
Facts/Trivia
- His hobbies include reading and traveling.
- He is one of the leading fashion designers in India.
- Ritu Kumar was born in a middle class family.
- Her parents broke the ancient taboo that girls should not be well-educated, and they widely supported girls’ education in India.
- Ritu’s background in art history and museology inspired her to open a business in clothing and ensembles.
- Ritu Kumar was the first to introduce Boutique culture in India. He established his boutique under the brand name “RITU.”
- In October 1999, Ritu published a book “Costumes and Textiles of Royal India,” which is based on the history of art and textile design in India.
Ritu Kumar Book Costumes and Textiles at Royal India
- Kumar’s designs are mainly based on traditional printing & weaving techniques. He prefers to use natural fabrics.
- The only thing that sets his label apart is his intellectual and unique vision of ethnic wear.
- Kumar who designed Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan’s wedding dress.
Ritu Kumar designed Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Wedding Dress
- Ritu often designs dresses for contestants in Indian Pageants such as “Miss Universe,” “Miss Asia Pacific” and “Miss India.”
- He designed several masterpieces for the late Princess Diana.
- When asked in an interview about designing costumes for Bollywood films, Kumar replied,
The way things are in Bollywood, I don’t think I have the time and patience for all that.”
- Kumar has about 35 luxury fashion stores in over 14 cities across India.
Inauguration of Ritu Kumar’s first store at Warden Road, Mumbai
- His son Ashwin Kumar is an Oscar-nominated director.
- In 2019, his website, ritukumar.com attracted 1,658,109 visitors in a year.
- Ritu has started a “Beautiful Hands” video campaign in Kolkata, which encourages the purchase of garments and accessories created by indigenous artisans.
- As of now (2020), Ritu runs three fashion labels, namely, “Ritu Kumar,” “Ri” and “LABEL Ritu Kumar.”
- Ritu is one of the founder members of the All India Artisans and Craft Workers Welfare Association (AIACA).
- Kumar has been credited for the revival of Zardozi, which was an art that flourished during the Mughal period.
- Her bridal collection mainly features Zari work, zardozi and other forms of embroidery using precious metals.
- Ritu is fondly called “Couture Rani” by her fans.
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
