“I have always loved things that are timeless and get better with age.” -Ralph Lauren
We have all grown watching
ji’s creations as a pioneer in Indian fashion industry. Before anyone else there was Ritu Kumar, the pioneer and revivalist of Indian Fashionand handloom. There is not even a single arena of fashion which has been not touched by Padma Shri Ritu Kumar ji, from couture to pret, from sarees to dresses, from lehngas to modern day kaftan dresses, bags to home decor- you name it, and you can see beautiful classy collection in every field. Her creativity of more than 40 years and unparalleled passion to fashion has made indian crafts and fabric reach every corner of world. Her collections are the epitome of a classic aesthetic that as Indians we know in our core as beautiful.
In recent Hyundai India Couture Week, 2023 , with The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) Ritu Kumar ji showcased our Indian heritage of handloom and handembroidery with global appeal. It was Make in India for global fashionistas. Her collection was like walking down nostagic memory lanes with contemporary aesthetics. It’s the vintage patina of vegetable colour, the layout design of the kurta, the balance of scale in paisley and buti, the finesse of the dabka gold thread curved around a flower motif. Bollywood diva Aditi Rao Hydari walked as a show stopper for her show and were all praises for Ritu ji’s creation. Aditi said that she is on cloud 9 as she walked the ramp in The Ritu Kumar couture.
The spectators were so moved by Ritu Kumar Ji’s her continuous contributions to Indian craft that she received an standing ovation post show. It was very emotional moment for us and Ritu ji and her team. The country owes much of its design ethos to the revival work done by the first ‘barefoot doctor’ , in today’s gennext lingo The OG of Indian fashion.
Have a look:
