Reliance Retail acquires 52% stake in designer Ritu Kumar's company

Reliance Retail did not disclose financial details, but said the acquisition included buying out the 35% stake held by Everstone Capital in Ritika Pvt Ltd, the company that owns Ritu Kumar brands

Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL) has acquired a 52 per cent stake in veteran couturier Ritu Kumar's firm Ritika Pvt Ltd for an undisclosed amount.

"RRVL's majority equity acquisition in Ritika Pvt Ltd included completely acquiring Everstone's 35 per cent stake in the company," a joint statement said.

Everstone is a global equity firm.

Ritu Kumar's business includes four fashion brand portfolios -- Label Ritu Kumar, The third RI Ritu Kumar, aark and Ritu Kumar Home & Living -- and cumulatively retails out of 151 point of sales globally.

"The partnership aims to highlight India's re-emerging role in the international couture industry, through parallel tracks of sustenance and innovation. The goal is to re-interpret age-old designs, motifs and patterns that nest under the vast repository of crafts for modern accessories, stylish, textile-rich clothes and distinct couture from India," it said.

Last week, Reliance Brands Ltd (RBL) announced that it will buy a 40 per cent stake in renowned fashion designer Manish Malhotra's MM Styles Pvt Ltd.

"Continuing with RRVL's refocused attention towards value creation through developing and supporting home-grown talent rooted in Indian design sensibilities, this partnership with the matriarch of Indian fashion Ritu Kumar will set a benchmark in this journey," it said.

RRVL Director Isha Ambani said very few countries can match the sophistication, style and originality of design, especially in printing and painting of textiles and weaves, found in India. "We are delighted to partner with Ritu Kumar, who possesses strong brand recognition, potential for scale, and innovation in fashion and retail all key ingredients to build a complete lifestyle brand".

"Together, we want to build a robust platform and customer ecosystem for our native textiles and crafts both in India and across the world so that our crafts receive the honour and recognition they deserve in international couture," she added.

Ritu Kumar said this very optimistic collaboration will further the work she started in researching and reviving India's textile history and wealth while highlighting our design ability.

The partnership will continue to build the business through the patronage of Indian crafts people. This will be achieved through skill enhancement and technological enablement of crafts and market engagement across retail channels in India and international geographies.

RRVL, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd, is the holding company of Reliance Retail Ltd, which operates the retail business.