Ritu Pande shares tips on how to make career as a fashion designer

Ritu Pande is a renowned fashion designer with her own fashion label. Known for subtle glamour, fluid draping, sophisticated detailing and textured accents, Ritu Pande Designs is a member of the prestigious Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). FDCI has only about 150 designer members comprising of the crème de la crème of Indian fashion fraternity.

In an exclusive interview with Shiksha, Ritu tells us about her career as a fashion designer:

Shiksha: Tell us something about your journey in the world of fashion?

Ritu: For me, true fashion is about creating timeless beauty through a play on textures, colors, patterns and silhouettes. I have believed in this mantra for over a decade, no matter how global trends have changed. My debut collection was launched in Mumbai in 1998. Since then, I have worked with several eminent fashion designers in Hong Kong, Malaysia as well as Indonesia giving me an exposure that allowed me to combine Pan-Asian designing sensibilities with Indian artistry.

In 2005, I launched my label ‘Ave Verum by Ritu Pande' in Jakarta, Indonesia. The daughter-in-law of Indonesia's President Jusuf Habibie - Ms Insana Habibie - hosted the first fashion show of my label and since then, the clientele of Ave Verum includes crème de la crème of Indonesia, such as socialites, diplomats and prominent members of the Indian Diaspora.

In 2009, I decided to move to India and launched a new label - Ritu and Rochana. This year, in June 2011, the label has been re-christened Ritu Pande.

Shiksha: What are the most important things that you keep in mind while designing your collections?

Ritu: Ritu Pande is known as a brand which is known for innovatively draped, beautiful, well fitted evening wear. The USP of the label is playing around with texture. I use fabric texturing, in terms of pleating, draping and three dimensional textured elements as our trademark. Traditional Indian embroideries and bling are not what I normally use. And it works - you can tell a Ritu Pande a mile off! 

Shiksha: What do you think defines an ideal candidate for making a career as a fashion designer?

Ritu: Someone who has clearly defined sensibilities, a fresh individual take and is not concerned about following the norm but speaks their own language of fashion.

Shiksha: Do you remember the moment when you decided you want to become a fashion designer? Would you share it with us?

Ritu: It was a gradual process. There was no one "eureka" moment when I decided- this was it. I have always been obsessed with fashion and art and writing-essentially all creative pursuits. This translated in a career in fashion design eventually.

Shiksha: How does being a member of Fashion Design Council of India has helped you in your journey to success?

Ritu: The opportunities that FDCI creates for its members are unbelievable. Wills Fashion Week - organized by FDCI - a fabulous platform to showcase one's work to the fashion fraternity, the media and most importantly, buyers from all over the world. It opens up a whole new world for its members and bestows respect on the designers who are affiliated with it, since only designers of a certain quality are accepted as members.

Shiksha: Where did you learn Fashion Designing? Share some of your experiences as a fashion designing student at your institute?

Ritu: I have a Diploma in Fashion Design from Jakarta. However I have also trained with well known designers in Malaysia and Indonesia, which has taught me as much as school. I learned the basics of design in school but I imbibed much more when working with my mentors-the nuances of finishing, detailing and my sense of aesthetics were developed at work.

Shiksha: When you appoint a new designer for your label, what are the qualifications and personality traits that you look for?

Ritu: I look for someone with individuality and a creative energy in synergy with the aesthetics of my label. Someone who brings fresh blood and ideas to the brand is always welcome.

Shiksha: How would you compare life for fashion designers in India and abroad?

Ritu: In India, fashion is still a nascent industry and designers are often treated as minor celebrities as opposed to serious business people who can create an empire. That is not the case abroad where the business of fashion is taken as seriously as the glamour of fashion and designers spend most of their time consolidating and expanding their brand.

Shiksha: Which are the best institutes for fashion designing you would suggest to our students and why?

Ritu: NIFT in India, and St Martins and Parsons outside the country. One just has to look at the quality of designers who have graduated from these institutes to know why they are recommended!

Shiksha: What is the typical day of a newbie in fashion designing is like?

Ritu: Very very hectic - in a nutshell! Lots of learning at the workshop has to be imbibed - from cutting techniques to pattern making to finishing and detailing. Being sent off on sourcing trips to various vendors, attending shows and seminars to get experience, learning the philosophy of the brand from your mentor- it is busy but fun!

Shiksha: Is there something which you would like to warn young girls and boys about as they prepare to enter the glamour industry as a fashion designer?

Ritu: Be true to yourself, don't take short cuts and don't be a copy cat- where is the creativity in that?

Shiksha: Is there any other advice you would like to give students who want to make career as a fashion designer?

Ritu: It is a fabulous career option for creative, committed, hard working people. Be prepared to work all hours and treat it like the serious business it is but don't forget to have fun with fashion!

 

Source: Ruchi Shrimali (Shiksha Team)