Ritu Beri's message to Paris

``B6Y''. That is fashion designer Ritu Beri's new message to women in the West. And in case you are wondering what this new collection is all about, be sure to be there in Paris on October 13. It sure promises to be a ``very beri'' special occasion, at least for lovers of Ritu couture.

Presenting a sneak preview in New Delhi of the ``B6Y'' Spring Summer-2002 collection, which she is taking to Paris this time round, Ritu confessed to being a student of the international market.``My western line is only for the world market. I do not sell it in India,'' she informs, adding that she can never ever lose the Indian touch. ``My first three collections for Paris were completely Indian. The problem is while people in the West like Indian clothes, they do not wear it on a day-to-day basis.''

In pursuit of her dream to make ``Ritu'' a world label like Armani, the ``very beri'' talented designer has taken up a real challenge. ``It is a long struggle and I have just begun,'' she confesses. ``As a baby, I loved Paris. I could start off because someone thought I have the talent to make it in the West. But I can tell you, it is very tough,'' she says.

Having realised that the ``Salwar Kameez'' and Gagra Choli'' do not sell in the West, Ritu has decided to go in for a total change. In fact, the transition has already happened for her and this collection is definitely targeted more at women in the streets of Tokyo or New York than in Mumbai or Delhi. ``I have plans to do pret in India but my whole concentration is on making it big in the West. If I miss a few seasons, I will not get a second chance.''

With ``B6Y'', she strikes a delicate balance giving equal time to fun denim and frills in chiffon. ``Baggies are very in now,'' she points out. Her collections have as much a facade of sophistication as they have the expression of naughtiness. ``We are still very conservative in India. When I wear a low-waisted trouser, I still have people looking at me with, shall I say, shock!''

So, what is ``B6Y'' all about? ``Unlike earlier times, today's woman does not want to look just beautiful or elegant but also sexy. She wants to have an attitude,'' explains Ritu. ``Sexiness is not only about dressing. It is also about the mind,'' she says. One of her designs in the ``B6Y'' collection uses the ``good devil'' mascot. ``It is the good devil in us that makes us enjoy life and keeps us young,'' she quips.

Big canvas shoulder bags with leather trimmings to accessorise this ``free to dress as you wish'' collection is definitely sassy and peppy. ``It is defiantly naughty, `tongue-in-cheek' and is designed for the woman who glorifies and revels in the `girl' in her, says Ritu. ``It all may look funky when models wear it. The whole idea is that there are parts of this collection which can be worn by any woman who wants to have an attitude.''

While Ritu is all set to take Paris by storm, it will be a subdued fashion week this time round due to the September 11 incident in the United States. ``Six big designers have cancelled their visit,'' she informs, adding : ``I am going to Paris tonight and then only will I know whether I would have to scale down the whole thing.''

The celebrated designer, who says she is concentrating on ``making her mark in the West'' feels India has the potential to conquer the world. ``Some international buyers who came in for my last collection thought that the production of my design was done in Italy. I told them that it was all done completely in India,'' she says, adding : ``The impression about us is that we are not reliable, we do not have the fabric and we haven't got the quality. But then we are no less''.

By K. Kannan

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