ritu kumar first mainstream fashion designer to win the padma shri veteran designer ritu kumar is among the celebrated names from the world of art who will be awarded the padma shri this year this is the first time a mainstream indian designer is being accorded a padma award says ritu who has been working on craft revival for more than 40 years theyve never had a category where designers were awarded the awards went to people from art cinema dance and music im happy that design is now also being considered and it will give us so many more opportunities to work for our own craft she said