Photograph by Whitney Curtis
Anjali Kamra's journey mimics the twists and turns of her bright tunic patterns. Since 2007, the Midwest transplant has circled the globe creating chic couture for Rungolee (rungolee.com), her clothing line for women of all ages. With three design teams in Mumbai and Kolkata, India, the Fashion Institute of Technology grad puts a modern spin on Indian fabrics and embroidery and infuses them with inspiration from her globe-trotting lifestyle.
What brought you to St. Louis?
The merger between Wachovia and A.G. Edwards brought us here a little over a year ago. Now my husband works for Wells Fargo. Because I have my production overseas, I can move the business anywhere. It's been great to be in St. Louis, because I'm right in the middle of the nation, and I can easily travel east and west.
Tell me about the name Rungolee.
Rungolee is the name of a colorful medallion pattern that rural women in India shape on the ground at the front door out of chalk, flower petals, or colored rice. It's decorative, but it's also a mark of welcome. It's cheery, it's colorful, and it's all about patterns—just like my collection.
How did you start the clothing line?
After attending the Fashion Institute of Technology and working in the fashion industry in New York, I moved to Richmond, Va., because of my husband's job. There was absolutely nothing in fashion there. I had been toying with the idea of starting my own business. I spent a whole summer in India setting up a unit to make clothes. In September 2007, I had my first trunk show with a small line of about 40 pieces—and it completely sold out!
Why is the line so limited?
There is something to be said about not being so accessible. People are looking for something that is different and not everywhere. There are a lot of designers who have done well and are now in every store. It's not just quantity; I want to sell things that are beautiful and well-made.
How has traveling in India and the U.S. had an influence on your designs?
It gets into your senses when you go and experience a new culture. It's almost subconscious. I was in Palm Beach last week doing a trunk show, and I came back with the feeling of the place still with me—the lighting, the weather. Wherever I go, I always have a little notebook, and I always notice how different cultures dress.
What's one fashion statement unique to the Midwest?
There's a lot more color in this town than in a town like New York. Yesterday, I read an email from a woman who said, "I'm an art dealer in New York, and I want to get some of your stuff, but I only wear blacks and grays." That's not the case in St. Louis. People really embrace color here. I love it!
