Long before sustainability became a buzzword in the fashion industry, Ritu Beri began championing craftsmanship, conscious creation, and the importance of slowing down consumption. Over the past three decades, this Indian designer has built a career that extends far beyond runways and luxury couture. In 1990, when Beri launched her label after studying at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), there was no such thing as a viral Instagram moment or overnight social media success. It was pure hustle and a refusal to settle. She essentially propelled Indian fashion onto the global stage, conquering the runways of Paris and London. Now, three decades later, the Delhi-based designer is achieving something arguably more challenging: she has quietly become the standard of Indian design, proving that conscious, responsible fashion is the ultimate luxury. As she steps up as a jury member for the Times Internet Ecopreneur Award 2026, her evolution from chasing international fame to championing slow fashion exemplifies the energy the industry needs today.
Times Internet Ecopreneur Awards: A Strong Initiative Towards Building a Sustainable Future
The Times Internet Ecopreneurs Awards celebrate game-changers who are rewriting the rules of business. Whether a brand-new climate startup or an established company, this award spotlights individuals making a genuine, measurable impact while building sustainable businesses. The award recognizes work across diverse fields, including clean technology, electric vehicles and mobility, sustainable farming, and more.
Why Sustainability is the Need of the Hour in the Fashion Industry
Beri's early career exemplifies a groundbreaking industry entry. In 1999, she became the first Indian designer to showcase at Paris Haute Couture Week, an achievement that seemed nearly impossible at the time. By 2001, she was the first Asian to head a major French fashion house, Jean Louis Scherrer. The French government awarded her the prestigious Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres. The real turning point occurred about seven or eight years ago when she began seriously working with Khadi. She did not treat it as a passing trend or a nostalgic marketing gimmick but as a core design philosophy. As she stated in an interview with Opinion Express, "Khadi production doesn't leave behind any harmful waste. It's the most eco-friendly fabric ever." Beyond environmental benefits, she saw it as a commitment to local artisans and a way to prove that clothes need not be disposable to be desirable. Her Khadi collections, such as Vichar Vastra for KVIC and A Miscellany in Khadi, demonstrate that deep tradition can blend with high-end, contemporary design, featuring grand Indo-western silhouettes and striking embroidery made from a fabric that directly supports village economies.
Beri is not merely advocating for recycling; she is promoting a total mindset shift. Her latest venture, Escape Goa, housed in a restored 200-year-old Portuguese villa, features a pre-loved collection. For a couture designer of her stature to actively curate and champion second-hand clothes is remarkable. She believes clothes hold memories, and passing them on makes them timeless treasures, not trash. In an interview with Business World, she said, "I think pre-loved is a beautiful concept. It gives garments a second life and adds emotional value to fashion. Clothes carry memories, and when they are passed on, they become timeless treasures instead of disposable trends."
Ritu Beri's Role as Ecopreneur Award Jury
Beri's position on the Ecopreneur Award jury sends a clear message: true entrepreneurship today means building businesses that care about the planet and its people. She did not start her career as an eco-warrior; she evolved into one because she realized that success without responsibility feels hollow. Innovators and founders applying for this award will be judged by someone who has spent decades proving that sustainability does not kill creativity but anchors it. In a world obsessed with fast fashion and quick profits, Beri stands for something beautifully rebellious: the idea that the most luxurious possession is something made with genuine respect. That may be her greatest legacy yet.
To nominate yourself for the Times Internet Ecopreneur Awards, click here.
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