Ritu Kumar: The World Is Waking Up To The Richness Of Our Textiles

News18

6 days ago

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Ritu Kumar will present her latest couture showcase, Threads of Time: Reimagined at India Couture Week 2025 in association with Reliance Brands, an FDCI initiative.
Legendary couturier Ritu Kumar returns to India Couture Week to celebrate five decades of her legacy through a one-of-a-kind couture showcase.
Kumar's legacy is built on her deep respect for Indian crafts and traditions and over the years, the brand has honoured her philosophy to the T. When Amrish Kumar took the reins, he not only celebrated Ritu Kumar's legacy but also immersed himself into the techniques that resonate with today's world.
Ritu Kumar shares with News18 how Threads of Time: Reimagined mirrors her five-decade journey, how Indian couture is more than just bridal and why she finds true joy in the process of creating a collection.
When you let Amrish Kumar take the reins, looking back, what was the first thing you said to him?
'Respect the past, but don't be afraid to challenge it'.That was the essence of my first conversation with Amrish when he began taking on more responsibility. Our legacy is built on deep respect for Indian crafts and traditions, but for it to stay alive, it must evolve. I always wanted him to understand the roots, immerse himself in the techniques, the stories, the artisans, and then build something that resonates with today's world. Seeing him do that with clarity and conviction fills me with immense pride.
It's a visual diary of sorts, a collection that bridges memory with momentum. Over the years, we've travelled from village looms to global runways, from traditional zardozi to digital prints. Threads of Time reimagines this journey: it weaves nostalgia into every silhouette while boldly adapting to the present. The collection reflects how the brand and I, personally, have always looked to honour artisanal India while interpreting it for the contemporary eye.
Couture in India is defined by bridal wear. Can couture be more than that, given Indian craftsmanship has gone global?
Absolutely and it must. Indian couture has always had the depth, versatility, and technical prowess to go beyond bridal. The world is waking up to the richness of our textiles, our storytelling, and our detailing. Bridalwear may remain a cultural anchor, but modern couture can live outside the wedding in the form of statement pieces, global red-carpet moments, or heirlooms worn in new ways. The key is intention: when design is driven by craft and emotion, it can transcend any category.
Indian textiles and crafts that the world needs to know — and why are they still relevant in 2025?
Crafts like chikankari, zardozi, hand-block printing, gota work, and kalamkari are not just decorative forms, they are living traditions. Each tells a story of a place, a people, a philosophy. In 2025, as the world leans into slow fashion and cultural authenticity, these crafts offer exactly that: depth, history, and sustainability. Their relevance lies in their human touch, a counter to mass production and in their ability to carry meaning, memory, and identity.
Your legacy tells the tale of India through craft. What makes you most happy when you sit down to create — the inspiration or the final collection?
It's the inspiration, always. That quiet moment of discovery, whether in a forgotten textile, a fading motif, or a conversation with an artisan that's where the magic lies for me. The final collection is gratifying, of course, but the true joy is in the process: unearthing stories, piecing together fragments of memory, and seeing how old ideas can find new life. That's when design becomes more than fashion it becomes a form of cultural preservation.
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