Our strength lies in being Indian: Ritu Kumar

Spice Girl Melanie Brown has worn her line and so have many Indian celebrities. Ace designer Ritu Kumar is now bringing her brand LABEL to Mumbai with the Lakme Fashion Week. In an exclusive interview with Shashank Chouhan of Spicezee.com, Kumar gives an insight into her collection.

You are launching Label at Lakme Fashion Week. What are the expectations? An exposure for the Label line which is very well received in Mumbai. What are you going to present at the show- designs, fabric, innovations etc? A young, evening line basically. Expect Indian designs with Western silhouettes. The theme is like A Midsummer Night's Dream; the styling and colour of that time. You have formed a formidable team with your son. Who has the responsibility of what? I generally stay with the traditional line and the printed collections. Amrish is more style oriented for a cosmopolitan look and hence more minimal What is keeping you excited these days? I am working on a couture collection to be mounted on the 30th of October in Delhi and then 20th Dec in Mumbai It’s called the ‘Falaknama’ collection. Your decision to showcase for Lakme has surprised some FDCI people... FDCI shows in Delhi only and we need to show in Mumbai as well; so the choice to go for Lakme this year is natural. What is it that India needs to do to be a fashion powerhouse? Internationally we are not near the size of fashion houses abroad, but our strength is in India and its culture. Introduction of the men’s fashion week is a good move in getting bigger. Designing for which celebrity client has been most challenging and satisfying to you? For almost all of them! What is that you would most like to see in style this festive season? Young bohemia is in, as also the traditional line so I hope to see a lot of both. Mix and match would be interesting.