Ritukumar

The story of Ritu Kumar, the brand, begins in the late 1960s with its founder, Ritu Kumar, a student of art history and museology. With just two tables and four hand-block printers in a village near Kolkata, she started a business that would become a cornerstone of Indian fashion. Her initial focus was on reviving ancient Indian textile and craft traditions, like Zardozi embroidery, which were at risk of disappearing. This small enterprise is credited with introducing the "boutique culture" to India. Kumar’s deep understanding of ancient designs, translated into contemporary bridal and evening wear, resonated with a new generation of Indian women. The company grew from a local craft revival project into a national brand. In 2002, a pivotal moment came when Ritu Kumar partnered with her son, Amrish Kumar, to launch 'Label Ritu Kumar'. This new, ready-to-wear line targeted a younger, global audience and marked a significant expansion of the business. Decades later, having established itself as one of India's most respected fashion houses, the company underwent another major transformation. In 2021, Reliance Retail Ventures Limited acquired a 52% majority stake in Ritika Pvt. Ltd., the parent company of the Ritu Kumar brands. This acquisition included buying out a 35% stake held by private equity firm Everstone since 2014. The partnership with Reliance aimed to scale the business and build a global platform for Indian crafts and textiles.