Kolkata Fashion Week - Ritu Kumar

The Czarina of Indian Haute Couture, Ritu Kumar, presented her collection on the first day of the Kolkata Fashion Week. Featuring her characteristic designs with exquisite blending of the Indian handicrafts with contemporary mediums, Kumar’s collection opened in black and gold, with varied silhouettes to suit the modern Indian woman. The collection comprised of evening gowns, long tunics, chogas, kutchi gathered coats worn over loose pants, all incorporating the exquisite skills of a hugely skilled designer. The theme was taken further by marrying the Indian aesthetic with coats, trench and bomber jackets, all trimmed with leather and worn with tights and boots. The color palette was rich and vivid, in the true Ritu Kumar style. The designer called her collection a tribute to the craftsmen of West Bengal, as she marked it as a celebration of forty years of the Ritu Kumar label.

WLIFW - Ritu Kumar

Another collection that I just loved from the Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week was the Ritu Kumar Collection. Ritu Kumar has long been a favorite and I have several pieces from her collection in my own closet. In India, every bride must have at least a few clothes from her bridal collection. Of late, Ritu Kumar has become brighter and bolder in her color palette and designs. Designing for decades, Ritu Kumar is largely considered a revivalist in Indian fashion Industry. Her designs have been known to reflect the ancient traditions of Indian craftsmanship with a modern twist. Her new collection was a welcome change from her affinity for muted tones and earthy colors.

Here Ritu went all out with opulent floral motifs on brightly colored backgrounds. The accessories were an all too visible part of the collection, be it the massive handbags, or the very in-your face bangles! The lengths varied… as did the style and seeming inspiration. What remained common, however, was color, color and more color!








Mirror work made an appearance from pieces as varied as this sari with a captivating print and interesting fabric and this lovely poncho with a muted grey background.





The very Indian color, Indigo, found a new expression. My personal favorites were the very Western cuts blended seamlessly with distinctly ethnic motifs! Awesome!





Shiny, shimmery, sequined skirts made their presence felt, through different sections of the collections. Whether with the vibrant florals, or with the fiery Indigo, they made a chic statement.





The fabrics included jersey, silk, satin and indigo Khadi. And the color palette was, well, limitless. Crimson, however, seemed to be the designer’s real muse, appearing on the models’ lips, in the flowers in their hair, in the accessories and the shoes! All in all, a very satisfying collection from one of India’s foremost designers. I am waiting for it to hit the stores.


All images courtesy yahoo.com