Ritu Kumar Age, Height, Family, Career, Net Worth, Lifestyle & Facts

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name Earned: Couture Rani [1] Fashion Lady

Profession: Fashion Designer

Date of Birth: 11 November 1944 (Saturday)

Age (as of 2024): 80 Years

Birthplace: Amritsar, Punjab, India

Zodiac sign: Scorpio

Nationality: Indian

Hometown: Amritsar, Punjab, India

Religion: Hinduism

Beverage: Tea

Age: 80 Years

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EDUCATION

School: Loreto Convent, Tara Hall, Shimla

College/University: • Lady Irwin College, New Delhi • Briarcliff College, New York • Asutosh Museum of Indian Art, Kolkata

Educational Qualification(s): • Graduate • A course in Art History • Museology

PHYSICAL STATISTICS

Height (approx.): in centimeters – 158 cm in meters – 1.58 m in feet & inches – 5’ 2”

Eye Colour: Brown

Hair Colour: Black

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS

Marital Status: Married

Affairs/Boyfriends: Shashi Kumar

Husband/Spouse: Shashi Kumar (Director at Ritu Kumar)

Children: Son(s) – Amrish Kumar (CEO-Ritu Kumar) Ashvin Kumar (Writer and Film Maker) Daughter – None

Parents: Names Not Known

Husband: Shashi Kumar

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Awards, Honours, Achievements: • Lifetime Achievement Award by NIFT • Lifetime Achievement Award by Kingfisher Group • Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur Award by PHDCC • Award of “chevalier des arts et des lettres” (knight of the order of arts and letters) bestowed by the French Government in recognition of her contribution to Indian textile crafts and traditional techniques • Lifetime Achievement Award at the Kingfisher Fashion Fantasia (2000) • Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award • Padma Shri Award (2013) • Delhi’s Most Stylish Award by Hindustan Times (2015)

OTHER INFORMATION

Hobbies: Reading, Travelling

Food: Chole Bhature, Pav Bhaji

Dessert: Rasmalai

Actor: Amitabh Bachchan

Travel Destination: New York

Colour: Peach

INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Ritu Kumar stands as a towering figure in the Indian fashion industry, boasting an impressive career that spans over four decades. Born into an affluent family in Amritsar, Punjab, she was nurtured in an environment that valued education and artistic expression. Her parents, both highly educated, played a pivotal role in encouraging her to pursue higher education in fields that resonated with her interests. This support, coupled with her academic background in art history and museology, laid the groundwork for her eventual foray into fashion designing, a choice that would soon transform her into one of the leading female fashion designers in India.

Kumar’s journey in the fashion world began in the modest surroundings of Kolkata in 1969, where she embarked on her career utilizing hand-block printing techniques and a few small tables. In the 1960s and 1970s, she carved out a niche for herself by focusing on evening wear and bridal attire, rapidly gaining recognition in the international market. Her first fashion show marked a significant milestone, showcasing her talent and the unique vision she brought to ethnic wear. As her reputation grew, so did her ambitions; by 1996, Kumar expanded her business internationally, opening branches in fashion capitals like New York and Paris, although her London outlet closed in 1999. At this point, her company reported an astounding annual turnover of around Rs. 10 billion, a testament to her success in a competitive industry and a feat unmatched by any other Indian fashion outlet.

Ritu Kumar’s innovative spirit did not stop at couture; she ventured into various creative projects that further enhanced her portfolio. In 2002, she received her first film design project for the Canadian movie “Bollywood Hollywood,” directed by Indo-Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta, which showcased her artistic versatility. That same year, she launched her sub-brand “LABEL” in collaboration with her son, Amrish Kumar. The introduction of her fragrance “The Tree of Life” further solidified her status as a multifaceted designer. Additionally, she made her mark in Indian cinema by designing costumes for films such as “No Fathers in Kashmir,” proving her skill in blending traditional aesthetics with contemporary narratives.

Kumar’s influence extends beyond her creations; her book, “Costumes and Textiles of Royal India,” published in October 1999, serves as a comprehensive chronicle of India’s rich history of textiles and artistic designs. With a focus on traditional printing and weaving techniques, her work celebrates natural fabrics and the artistry of indigenous craftspeople. Her designs have adorned numerous Bollywood personalities, including the likes of Aishwarya Rai, Anushka Sharma, and Priyanka Chopra, as well as iconic figures such as Princess Diana, who cherished her exquisite pieces. Despite her notable contributions, Kumar has expressed her reservations about the Bollywood film industry, citing a lack of patience for the demands it entails.

Today, Ritu Kumar operates over 35 flagship stores across more than 14 cities in India, with her online presence attracting over 1.6 million visitors to her website in 2019. She manages three distinct fashion labels—“Ritu Kumar,” “Ri,” and “LABEL Ritu Kumar”—and remains a staunch advocate for artisan welfare as a co-founder of the All India Artisans and Craft Workers Welfare Association (AIACA). Her efforts in reviving traditional crafts, such as the Mughal-era Zardozi work, further highlight her commitment to preserving India’s rich cultural heritage. Through her visionary designs and entrepreneurial spirit, Ritu Kumar not only transformed the fashion landscape in India but also inspired a generation of designers and artisans to embrace their roots.

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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.