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Ritu Kumar Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 14, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth11 November 1944

Age80 Years

BirthplaceAmritsar, Punjab, India

ProfessionFashion Designer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseShashi Kumar

FamilySons - Amrish Kumar, Ashvin Kumar

Ritu Kumar Biography

Ritu Kumar is an Indian fashion designer known for revitalizing traditional Indian textiles and crafts. Born in Amritsar in 1944, she built a multi-label,

Early life and background
Ritu Kumar was born on 11 November 1944 in Amritsar, Punjab. Raised in a family that encouraged higher education, she studied at Loreto Convent, Tara Hall in Shimla and went on to attend Lady Irwin College in New Delhi. Her studies also took her to Briarcliff College in New York and to the Asutosh Museum of Indian Art in Kolkata, where she completed coursework in art history and museology. These academic interests laid the foundation for a design career rooted in historical textile traditions and craft techniques.

Career
Kumar began her professional journey in Kolkata in 1969, working with hand-block printing on a very small scale. She initially focused on evening wear and bridal clothing through the 1960s and 1970s and established a distinct niche for her brand in both domestic and international markets during those decades. Her work emphasizes traditional printing and weaving methods and the use of natural fabrics.

Across the 1990s and beyond, Kumar expanded her business internationally, opening branches in cities such as New York and Paris; a London branch was opened but later closed in 1999. By that period her company reported very large annual turnover figures. She is credited with introducing the boutique culture to India under the brand name RITU and has operated multiple fashion labels, including Ritu Kumar, Ri, and LABEL Ritu Kumar. In 2002 she and her son Amrish launched the sub-brand LABEL.

Kumar has also been involved in related creative projects. Her book, Costumes and Textiles of Royal India, was published in October 1999 and explores historic art and textile design in India. She designed costumes for the film No Fathers in Kashmir and provided design work for the 2002 Indo-Canadian film Bollywood/Hollywood. She later introduced a fragrance called “The Tree of Life.”

Influence and craft initiatives
A long-standing advocate for traditional crafts, Kumar has been associated with efforts to support artisans. She is a founding member of the All India Artisans and Craft Workers Welfare Association (AIACA) and has been credited with helping to revive zardozi embroidery in India. Her video campaign “Beautiful Hands,” based in Kolkata, has promoted garments and accessories produced by indigenous craftspeople.

Public profile
Over a multi-decade career Kumar has dressed a number of high-profile personalities and had her work showcased at beauty pageants and on public figures. Her clientele has included film actors and pageant contestants; several Indian actresses have worn her designs. International interest has also been reported for her craftsmanship.

Awards and recognition
Kumar’s contributions to fashion and textile crafts have been recognized with numerous honors. Her awards include a Padma Shri (2013), the chevalier des arts et des lettres conferred by the French government for her work with Indian textile crafts, and multiple lifetime achievement awards from institutions such as NIFT and the Kingfisher Fashion Fantasia. Additional recognitions include the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award and industry honors acknowledging her entrepreneurial achievements and style.

Personal life
Ritu Kumar is married to Shashi Kumar, who has served as a director of the company. The couple have two sons: Amrish Kumar, who has been CEO of the Ritu Kumar company, and Ashvin Kumar, who is a writer and filmmaker. She has described personal interests such as reading and travel and lists New York among her preferred destinations.

Latest updates
Kumar’s retail presence has included dozens of stores across India; at one point she operated more than 35 major outlets in over 14 cities. In 2019 her website received more than 1.65 million visitors. She continues to be associated with her fashion labels and with initiatives that support traditional textile techniques and artisans.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Ritu Kumar, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Costumes and Textiles of Royal India

Book chronicling the history of art designs and textiles in India, published October 1999.

1999
Costume design for No Fathers in Kashmir

Designed costumes for the Indian film No Fathers in Kashmir.

LABEL (sub-brand) launch

Launched the sub-brand LABEL Ritu Kumar with her son Amrish Kumar.

2002
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Career Highlights

  1. Started professional career in Kolkata in 1969 using hand-block printing
  2. Introduced boutique culture in India under the brand name RITU
  3. Operates multiple labels including Ritu Kumar, Ri, and LABEL Ritu Kumar
  4. Published Costumes and Textiles of Royal India (1999)
  5. Founded All India Artisans and Craft Workers Welfare Association (AIACA)
  6. Received Padma Shri (2013) and chevalier des arts et des lettres from France
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ritu Kumar born?

Ritu Kumar was born on 11 November 1944.

What is Ritu Kumar known for?

Ritu Kumar is known for fashion Designer.

What is Ritu Kumar’s marital status?

Ritu Kumar's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Ritu Kumar married to?

Ritu Kumar is publicly listed as married to Shashi Kumar.