Iqrup and Ritika Dhamija, a mother daughter duo, are founders of the contemporary furniture and decor brand known as Iqrup + Ritz. Iqrup, the brand’s creative brain, was trained in London and has been an interior designer and furniture maker for over 30 years. Ritika, the strategic mind behind Iqrup and Ritz, worked as an investment banker for many years before joining her mother. Since launching, the brand has shipped 1000s of products worldwide. The Iqrup + Ritz collections are a dialogue of the past and present, paying homage to iconic styles and crafts from different periods. The brand works majorly with family-run workshops across the world to make high quality handcrafted pieces.
Here are a few things we discuss with them –
How can we change the narrative around ‘Handcrafted in India’ to reflect the new wave of contemporary craft, and move it away from the previous associations of it being heavily traditional and ornate?
What are some of the biggest pros and cons of manufacturing in India?
How can an Indian brand stay afloat amidst the influx of international brands like West Elm, Ikea, and now Pottery Barn?
“People in India aren’t factory workers, they’re karigars” – Ritika Dhamija
