Reflecting a heritage

Armed with an idea to come up with a sustainable clothing line, Ritesh Rajpoot, Aniket Sinha and Rishav Sinha came together in 2012 to launch ‘RAR Studio’. The trio primarily works with handloom weaves like ‘chanderi’ and creates traditional yet hassle-free outfits. They abide by a motive to give the artisans the value they deserve as well as promote the rich heritage of India. In a chat with Surupasree Sarmmah, Ritesh talks about the clash of ideas, inspirations and more.

How did this group come together?
We have known each other for a long time. While Rishab is my classmate’s brother, Aniket is my childhood friend. Initially we were working with different organisations but then we thought of investing our time in something that will give us creative satisfaction. So rather than working under someone, we ventured out with our own label.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
We get inspired from almost everything — nature, Indian heritage, monuments and more. We feel blessed to have been born in India which provides us with ample creative stimulus.

Is there any clash of ideas?
Of course, there is! When you work in a group, clashes are bound to happen. However we take it in a positive way since this makes us more creative. We have a rule that no idea can be made final without the approval of all three of us.

In which part of the house do you get most of your ideas?
The washroom and the kitchen for sure. Both these places are so relaxed.

‘RAR studio’ in three words...
Passion, friends, forever.

A must-have in the monsoon closet...
Pleated ‘shararas’ and maxi skirts. Both these outfits can be paired with long jackets.

Summer, Monsoon or Winter...
It has to be Summer. The season is so bright and colourful.

A trend that is classic and timeless...
Saris. They are so versatile in terms of the occasion they can be worn to and the way they can be draped.

A celebrity who you consider a style icon...
Sonam Kapoor.

Your latest collection looks royal...
The collection is called ‘Baagicha’ and is inspired from the flora and fauna of this country as well as the grandeur of the Mughal heritage. We have used colours like yellow, orange, mush green, ivory and beige.

What is in the pipeline?
We are planning for fashion shows like Lakme, where we want to present Indian art and textile. Professionally, we want to grow in the international market.