Karu Research
Karu Research is an Indian menswear brand founded by Kartik Kumra in 2021.
| Industry | Fashion |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2021 Gurugram, India[1] |
| Founder(s) | Kartik Kumra[2] |
| Headquarters | New Delhi[3] |
| Website | karuresearch.com |
HistoryEdit
The brand was founded in 2021, and has been referred to as a "pandemic-born" fashion brand, as founder Kartik Kumra founded it amidst the global Covid-19 shutdowns.[1] At the beginning of the brand, Kumra could not drive, so his mother transported him around the country. Oftentimes the relationships with local artisans began as cold-calling.[4]
Karu Research grossed $300,000 its inaugural year. By 2022 it grossed more than $900,000 in revenue.[2] Kumra cited Dries Van Noten and Craig Green as a major influence.[2][1]
In January 2023, Karu Research received its first showcase in Paris Fashion Week.[1] The brand became one of the twenty-two semifinalists in the running for the LVMH Prize, showcased during Paris Fashion Week.[5]
Kumra was included in the 2023 Forbes 30 under 30 list for Asia.[6]
His spring collection was inspired by two iconic Indians, Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar II, an arts patron who became Maharaja of Indore in 1926, and Sourav Ganguly, one of the country’s premiere cricketers.[5]
Karu Research is solidly based in an Indian sensibility, both aesthetic and cultural. A vital component of Kumra's brand is the role of local garment makers, and combining regional methods of Indian textile production.[2] His garments are typically woven textiles which can be made with no electricity at all, weaving is done on handlooms and coloring is achieved through natural dyes.[5]
The Sanskrit word Karu translates to "artisan," keeping in line with the brand's bedrock principal of engaging local artisans and utilizing their traditional and specialized skillsets.[7]
For their SS24 menswear line, the brand collaborated with Himalayan organizations and created vegetable dyes and textured linens woven on handlooms. Traditional Indian mosaics and floral illustrations were used alongside hand-embroidery to adorn linen shirting, cardigans, and jackets. A series of cricket-inspired pieces were created in collaboration with Stepney Workers Club.[3][8]
The brand has been work by A$AP Rocky, Joe Jonas, and Kendrick Lamar.[9][4]
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Zamindar, Shriya (28 March 2023). "LVMH Prize semi-finalist Kartik Kumra of menswear label Karu Research on the recipe behind his bestselling Kantha fits".
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Gallagher, Jacob (13 December 2022). "He Built a Global Fashion Brand—Before He Passed His College Finals".
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Andrea Sacal (June 27, 2023). "Karu Research SS24 Depicts Indian Masculinity Through Rebellious Figures". Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Jacob Gallagher (January 6, 2023). "Penn Student Built Global Fashion Brand Worn by Stars Like Joe Jonas Before His College Finals". Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Joelle Diderich (June 25, 2023). "Karu Research Men's Spring 2024". Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ↑ "Kartik Kumra". Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ↑ Aravin Sandran (April 5, 2022). "Karu Research Blends India's Cultural Heritage With the Skill of Its Artisans". Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ↑ Sanj Patel (July 4, 2023). "Karu Research's Heritage-Inspired SS24 Collection Showcases Artisanal Craftsmanship". Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ↑ Tom White (August 14, 2023). "Tints Streetwear, Veja and Karu Research: How to Dress Like A$AP Rocky With These Three Sustainable Fashion Brands". Retrieved August 16, 2023.