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Long before sustainability was used in the fashion industry as a concept, Ritu Beri began speaking about it including craftsmanship, conscious creation , and the importance of slowing down consumption. Over the last thirty years, this Indian designer has built a career that stretches far beyond runways and luxury couture.

Back in 1990, when Ritu Beri first launched her label, after studying from National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), there was no such thing as a viral Instagram moment or an overnight social media success. It was just pure hustle and a refusal to settle. She essentially dragged Indian fashion onto the global stage, conquering the runways of Paris and London.

But three decades later, the Delhi-based designer is pulling off something arguably much harder, she’s quietly become the standard of Indian design , proving that conscious, responsible fashion is the ultimate luxury. Now, 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 is exactly the kind of energy the industry needs right now.

Times Internet Ecopreneur Awards: A strong initiative towards building a sustainable futureThe Times Internet Ecopreneurs Awards is all about celebrating the game-changers. Whether you’re a brand-new climate startup or a massive established company, this award is to spotlight the people who are totally rewriting the rules of business. This is the space where helping the environment meets real innovation, proving that you can build a highly successful, profitable company while still doing the right thing for the earth. Ecopreneur award honors organizations that are making a genuine, measurable impact while building businesses that are built to last and recognizing work across a bunch of different fields, including, Clean technology, Electric vehicles and mobility, Sustainable farming, and more.
Why sustainability is the need of the hour in fashion industry? Ritu’s early career shows what a groundbreaking entry in the industry looks like. In 1999, she was the first Indian designer to showcase at Paris Haute Couture Week, an achievement that felt practically impossible at the time. By 2001, she became the first Asian to head up a major French fashion house, Jean Louis Scherrer. The French government even handed her the prestigious Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.

The real turning point happened about seven or eight years ago when she started seriously working with Khadi. She didn’t treat it like a passing trend or a cute, nostalgic marketing gimmick. She saw it as a core design philosophy.

As she put it recently on Opinion Express, "Khadi production doesn't leave behind any harmful waste. It's the most eco-friendly fabric ever." But beyond the environmental perks, she saw it as a commitment to local artisans and a way to prove that clothes don't need to be disposable to be desirable.

Her Khadi collections, like Vichar Vastra for KVIC and A Miscellany in Khadi are proof that you can blend deep tradition with high-end, contemporary design. We're talking grand Indo-western silhouettes and striking embroidery; all made from a fabric that directly supports village economies.

Ritu isn't just talking about recycling; she's pushing for a total mindset shift. Take her latest venture, Escape Goa. Housed in a restored 200-year-old Portuguese villa, it’s actually going to feature a pre-loved collection . Think about how wild that is for a minute: a couture designer of her stature is actively curating and championing second-hand clothes. To her, clothes hold memories, and passing them on makes them timeless treasures, not trash. Talking to Business world she says, “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’s spot on the Ecopreneur Award jury sends a very clear message, true entrepreneurship today means building businesses that actually give a damn about the planet and the people on it. She didn't start her career as an eco-warrior; she evolved into one because she realized that success without responsibility eventually feels totally hollow.

The innovators and founders applying for this award will be judged by someone who has spent decades proving that sustainability doesn't kill creativity, it anchors it. In a world utterly obsessed with fast fashion and quick cash, Ritu Beri stands for something beautifully rebellious- the idea that the most luxurious thing you can own is something made with genuine respect. And honestly, that might be her greatest legacy yet.

To nominate yourself for the Times Internet Ecopreneur Awards,