Ruma Devi
Social Entrepreneur
Ruma Deviji a 30-year-old school dropout recently won the 2019 fashion design prize awarded by Textile Fairs India — a platform for manufacturers and buyers. The award includes a trip to Paris, but Ruma Devi is not in a hurry to visit Paris. And while she has travelled to Germany, England, Thailand and Sri Lanka for fashion shows, her heart still lies in Barmer. Today, she has 22,000 women working with her.
Dressed in a traditional skirt, her head covered with a veil, Rajasthani villager Ruma Devi does not look like the fashionista she is. But make no mistake, she is among the most fêted designers today, known for her quintessential Barmer patchwork and embroidery designs.
She has also won KBC and President’s Award. Recently she was invited to speak at Harvard University.