KOCHI: For tall, beautiful and vibrant Renuka C Sekhar, “Fashion is Passion.” She has the looks of a model and is a fashion designer of whom the state can be proud off. Renuka has traveled to around 10 European countries to discuss her fashion projects. Other than designing clothes, she also writes travelogues and is an ardent blogger.
Born and bought up at Irumpanam, Kochi, Renuka always had a keen interest in fashion right from her childhood, recalls her mother, Ramani. The admiration is mutual. If you ask Renuka who inspired her to choose this career, she will proudly say, “My mother’.
“My mother used to experiment with designs and stitch dresses for me and my sister. She was the one who encouraged me to follow my dream.”
Since she had a strong aptitude for fashion, Renuka joined the BSc Costume and Fashion Designing course at Calicut University. After getting her degree she worked as a teacher at the Inter National Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD) in Kochi for 6 months.
“Anil and Jamal Muhammed of Paris De Boutique in Kochi were my first mentors. They taught me pattern making and helped me explore the nuances of fashion. I am very grateful to the them,” said Renuka.Renuka emphasises that hard work and passion for whatever you do are the only key to success. Today, Renuka has carved herself a niche in the competitive and challenging fashion industry and has worked for almost every leading international brands such as Adidas, Only, Vera Moda, GAP and Banana Republic.
Renuka, now, is the proud owner of Adorrio Fashion House, Banglore that designs western wears for Indian and European clients. She believes in the words of the famous fashion designer, Coco Chanel, ‘In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.’
Juggling work and family life, Renuka is planning to put her signature in Kerala by launching a unique fashion buying house in the city which sells organic wears. “People complain of developing allergies due to synthetic and cotton dress which are available in market. Organic wears will reduce the problem caused by pesticides that are used in cotton. There are places in India where cotton is grown without the application of any pesticides. The production works will be done in Bangalore. Colours used in the organic materials will be extracted from pesticides free vegetables and fruits,” added Renuka.
Renuka’s unique collections of ethnic wears with western cuts were showcased at the Kerala Fashion League, 2015 which was recently held in the city. “I was happy to be part of the show. It gave me a platform to introduce my ethnic collections in Kochi. The show also gave me an opportunity to meet other designers. The fashion sense of people in the city has improved and is really good,” said Renuka.
To the question what rules she follows as a fashion designer, she gleefully replies,”Treat your clients as GOD, value time, do not mix your professional and personal life and put in your maximum effort.”
Renuka finds happiness and satisfaction in designing clothes for ordinary people. “The joy we see in our customers’ eyes once they try out the costume and find it transforming them, makes my day. I design clothes, that will look best on the individual,” said Renuka.
Her husband Girish and daughter Tanvi are her pillars of support. “I like to be a fashion designer like my mama,” said five-year-old, Tanvi, bubbling with excitement.