Delhi-based designer Ritu Beri has received one of France’s highest civilian awards.
She’s feeling ecstatic and understandably so. For well-known fashion designer Ritu Beri has been honoured with the Chevalier Des Arts et Des Lettres award — one of the highest civilian awards by the French government.
“I’m overwhelmed with such an accolade,” says the vivacious designer who received the news at her home in Paris. “The news came via a letter from the French culture minister; it’s certainly a dream come true!”
In addition, Ritu’s also gearing up to present a retrospective at the fashion week on October 23 in Delhi to celebrate 20 years of being in the fashion industry and her honour from the French Government. “It will be a nostalgic, archival journey. A glimpse of various collections designed by me that are still a la mode,” she states.
Having been the first to showcase her works on the catwalks of Paris, a time when fashion was a radically different business and since carving her own niche back home in India too, Ritu shares how she adapted the changing times to suit her work. “I love India, it’s my heritage, but I believe Paris is my destiny. Today I have come full circle,” she admits.
“I was the first Asian to head a French fashion house. Back then, for an Indian designer to do so was an impossible dream. The experience was fabulous, but while the packaging of Parisian fashion undermined my confidence, my soul refused to be silent. One day, I received a scribbled fax from Francois Lesage (the famed embroider) to go for it. I decided, I would do one show in Paris, it would be enough, I reasoned, for a lifetime.
” That was a runaway hit with renowned critic Suzy Menkes saying, she “gave a lesson in high fashion aesthetics,” and things took off since.
Fashion apart, Ritu has other passions, one her writing, with memoir — Firefly-A Fairy Tale — released this year. “I love doing homes and furniture. And while I am deeply involved with a charity for children, I am passionate about good wine, food and specially chocolates. Life goes on and what’s life without passion, fun and chocolates?” she laughs.
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