Launching the first edition of ‘Runway Diaries’ from Jammu on Saturday, the founder and director, Kunwarani Ritu Singh, said that this platform will showcase the rich talent of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The ‘Runway Diaries’ is a forum with a vision of celebrating the rich tapestry of culture, talent, and craftsmanship that the Jammu region has to offer,” Ritu Singh, flanked by other members here, told reporters at a press conference.
The ‘The Runway Diaries’ founder said it was “a platform set to redefine and give wings to the fashion industry in Jammu and Kashmir, giving opportunities to artisans, culture, tourism, art and craft, and talent with a global perspective.”
“Talent in Jammu is very huge, but they never got an opportunity to come under one umbrella. I wanted to conceptualize an idea with the design council in Jammu as an industry,” she said.
“We continue to contribute to the empowerment and growth trajectory for the region with dynamism, grace, and vision, bridging gaps and breaking the glass ceilings, and through ‘The Runway Diaries’ now extending vision to the world of fashion and self-expression,” she stated.
The ‘Runway Diaries’ team consists of Vanita Thakur, an entrepreneur, educationist, and leading fashion curator in the region of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Ankita Bansal, innovative and business acumen with a diverse entrepreneurial background in software technology and event management; Dev Krishan Sharma, Founder of Dernier Cri; Sarita Tondon, makeup artist
“The show will open with Varun Bahl’s and Jyotika Jhalani’s collections,” she added.
The ramp will be walked by 34 super models from Murnbai and Delhi, with Dimple Patel (Miss DIVA Globe, 2016), Aprajita Sharma (FEMINA Miss India finalist, top 10), and top Jammu models.
“We have around 19 designers from Jammu who are participating in the show, and all are showcasing the rich culture of our region, mostly the exquisite dogra poshak with rich gota and zardozi work; a few are showing a fusion of modern and traditional dogri work, and a couple of them are showcasing Kashmiri work and embroidery. One of the designers is showing how the Dogra dress has evolved over the years,” she said.
“PM Narendra Modi, the crusader of ‘Vocal for Local’, is pitching for promoting local products, and we are also working on similar lines so that Jammu products get familiar on a global platform.”
Ritu Singh said that one permanent shop has also been established at Hari Niwas showcasing the products, adding, “The second edition of “The Runway Diaries’ is to be held in Kashmir in April next year.”
