SUDHA REDDY

At the 2026 Met Gala, billionaire philanthropist Sudha Reddy championed centuries-old textile art form kalamkari in custom Manish Malhotra ‘Tree Of Life’ couture that took 3,459 hours and 90 artisans to create, conceived in collaboration with global celebrity stylist Mariel Haenn.

Rooted in Machilipatnam style of Kalamkari, one of India’s oldest textile traditions, the look reinterpreted the 3,000-year-old storied art form through a contemporary, sculptural lens. Traditionally hand-painted with natural dyes, Kalamkari is known for its intricate depictions of mythology, nature and cosmology. The Tree of Life motif symbolizes balance, growth and interconnectedness of all life forms.

In keeping with this year’s ‘Costume Art’ theme, the ensemble moved beyond fashion into a constructed immersive narrative, bringing together zardozi, marodi, resham and metalwork, merging traditional Indian hand-embroidery techniques with couture innovation.

Drawing deeply from the landscape of her city of origin, the design incorporated symbolic motifs tied to the region’s identity: the the Palapitta (Indian Roller), the Jammi Chettu (Prosopis Cineraria), and the Tangedu (Tanner’s Cassia alongside celestial references to Kalpavriksha (the wish-fulfilling tree of abundance), Surya (the Sun god) and Chandra (the Moon god). Each element, rooted in seasonal festivals and cultural traditions of Telangana, was intricately embedded throughout the ensemble to portray a living map of heritage.

A sculpted, corseted silhouette in deep royal blue formed the foundation of the ensemble, anchored by Manish Malhotra’s signature swirl construction. Antique gold zari embroidery flowed across the surface, while the Tree of Life emerged in intricate zardozi spanning velvet, silk, and tulle. The Palapitta appeared delicately along the bodice in fine marodi work, while peacock motifs unfurled across the embroidered 7 meter lavish trail, enhancing its sense of scale and drama. A sheer tulle cape softened the structured form, hand-embroidered in resham and subtly accented with antique gold zari, with delicate depictions of Hyderabad’s flora and fauna. The ensemble was further elevated by a dramatic installation at the upper back—a sculpted metal vine crafted entirely by hand in brass, copper, and silver. At its centre stood the Kalpavriksha, surrounded by motifs including the Jammi Chettu, Tangedu, Surya, Chandra and the Palapitta.

The monochromatic sapphire-wash palette extended into the jewellery, drawn from Reddy’s personal collection and valued at $15 million, lending the look a sense of museum-worthy maximalism. At its centre was a Victorian-finished necklace featuring triangular and pear-shaped rose-cut diamonds arranged in delicate floral clusters, anchored by the striking 550-carat ‘Queen of Merelani’ deep violet-blue tanzanite sourced from Tanzania’s Merelani Hills.

The suite was completed with a 23-carat yellow diamond ring alongside a 30-carat rose-cut polki diamond ring from Rajasthan. A collector-grade Dolce & Gabbana minaudière added a final flourish – its theatrical, baroque silhouette rendered in metal and fully encrusted with brilliant crystals. Her ensemble was elevated by a custom Manish Malhotra clutch, detailed with vintage zardozi embroidery and finished with elegant gold tassel accents.

“Hyderabad is my foundation, and this ensemble is a translation of that cultural identity into a language that is both global and deeply personal,” says Sudha Reddy. “Indian craftsmanship isn't a legacy confined to history but a living, breathing art form. It was vital to demonstrate that these ancient techniques possess the structural integrity and aesthetic power to lead the global fashion dialogue. The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Telangana recently emphasized that South Indian crafts and textiles deserve sustained global visibility, even envisioning their presence at platforms like London and Paris Fashion Week. That became my singular brief to the team – to take the richness of South Indian textile heritage to an international stage. New York was our starting point.”

“Fashion, for me, has always been about the emotion behind the image.,” says Manish Malhotra, “With ‘The Tree of Life,’ we wanted to create something that carries memory and the soul of the craft. It is not merely worn, it is experienced.”

Guided by the cinematic sensibility of celebrity stylist Mariel Haenn, a trusted collaborator to global icons like Rihanna, Pharrell Williams, Gwen Stefani and Jennifer Lopez – the look was completed with intentional, minimalist beauty – soft contouring, diffused smoky cat-eyes, sleek low ponytail and gold-chrome French tip nail art.

“Working with Sudha Reddy and Manish Malhotra on ‘The Tree of Life’ was an exercise in pushing the boundaries of what red-carpet fashion can be,” says Mariel Haenn, “Our goal was to treat this ensemble as a piece of high-concept art by projecting the grandeur of Indian heritage through a cinematic contemporary lens. My approach to styling has always been about finding the narrative thread that connects a person to their clothes. With Sudha Reddy, that thread is her incredible commitment to her hometown and the storytelling of her culture.”

ISHA AMBANI

Businesswoman, philanthropist, and arts patron Isha Ambani wore Gaurav Gupta Couture for the first time while attending The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit in New York.

This approach brings together textile, jewellery, and craft within a single construction, informed by early Indian architecture and the visual language of the subcontinent’s landscapes. Within this, the saree’s border becomes a focused site of narrative, featuring hand-painted and hand-embroidered motifs inspired by the Ajanta cave murals, dating from the 2 nd century BCE to around the 5 th century CE, among the earliest surviving examples of Indian painting, known for their depictions of draped form, ornament, and scenes from both courtly and natural life.

Executed over 150 hours by a team of six artisans from the Swadesh collective, led by Pichwai artist Trilok Soni, the surface is further developed through techniques such as Zardozi, Aari work, and embroidery to build depth and texture.

Over 50 artisans created the full ensemble, contributing more than 1200 hours of cumulative craftsmanship across weaving, painting, embroidery, and construction. The full look is completed with a custom sculptural cape developed using Gaurav Gupta’s in-house resin draping technique.

“The saree is one of the few garments in the world that has existed continuously for thousands of years and is still worn today, which makes it incredibly powerful,” says Gaurav Gupta, “With this look, we wanted to honour that continuity while approaching it with restraint, allowing the form and the craft to speak for themselves. Isha embodies a modern Indian identity with a natural confidence, which made her the perfect person to carry this narrative on a global stage.”

The look brings together textile, jewellery, and form through a distinctly Indian lens, drawing on traditions where adornment and garment exist as one. It reflects a continuity of craft and material, interpreted through a contemporary couture language.

“Working with Gaurav is always such a treat. This look marked a departure from his usual couture language, it was about embracing something more pared down. While the blouse carries richness, the focus remains on the saree, something we both wanted to honour,” says Anaita Shroff Adajania.

At the centre of the look is a jewellery-integrated blouse, constructed with over 1,000 diamonds and precious stones totalling over 1,800 carats, including heirloom old mine diamonds, rare emeralds, and traditional polki and kundan elements drawn from Nita Ambani’s personal collection. Developed by 40 artisans across India, the piece brings together historic and contemporary jewellery forms within a single construction.

Conceived as an extension of the garment, the blouse integrates jewellery directly into the textile through intricate Zardozi anchoring and hand-tucking techniques. Achieved over 500 hours, the piece incorporates traditional embroidery methods such as dabka and nakshi, creating a sculptural, dimensional surface. At its back sits a historic sarpech from the Mughal era, dating between the 16th and 18th centuries and formerly part of the Nizams of Hyderabad collection. Set with table-cut and rose-cut diamonds in traditional kundan settings, the piece is articulated around larger old mine stones and finished with suspended antique emerald bead drops, with detailed meenakari work on the reverse.

The approach draws on India’s long-standing history of jewellery as a form of identity and artistic expression, where ornament and body exist in continuity. The composition brings together layered diamond necklaces and sculptural earrings that echo traditional forms of adornment while maintaining a sense of fluidity and balance.

Lauren Wasser

Luxury Swiss watchmaker Hublot brought its signature Art of Fusion to fashion’s biggest night, the 2026 Met Gala, where renowned guests were dressed in the brand’s exclusive and coveted timepieces on the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Model and activist, Lauren Wasser, made her Met Gala debut wearing the Hublot Big Bang Integrated King Gold Pave 42 mm with a golden Prabal Gurung number, stepping onto the carpet as a member of the official 2026 host committee. The diamond-pave timepiece added a striking, sculptural brilliance to her special look.

Justin Jefferson

Justin Jefferson, one of the NFL’s most dynamic talents, wore the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang High Jewelry King Gold 42mm, while making a return to the Met Gala carpet. Crafted in luminous King Gold and set with meticulously arranged diamonds, the piece radiated opulence from every angle.

Luke Evans

While dressed in the Hublot Big Bang Unico High Jewelry 44mm, highly acclaimed stage and screen actor, Luke Evans, made a stunning appearance on the Met Gala carpet. This distinguished timepiece is set with a white gold case adorned with 334 diamonds totalling 17.2 carats.  Evans’ wore custom Palomo by Spanish menswear designer Alejandro Gómez Palomo styled by celebrity stylist Christopher Brown.

Joe Alwyn

Critically acclaimed actor, Joe Alwyn, wore the Hublot Classic Fusion King Gold 42mm, adding a striking finishing touch to his enchantingly polished look. Its refined engineering and ultra-slim profile showcased the brand’s mastery of precision and modern watchmaking.

Ananya Birla

Stepping onto the red carpet for her Met Gala debut, Ananya Birla wore a custom Robert Wun creation, paired with a sculptural stainless-steel mask designed by artist Subodh Gupta.

She accessorized with statement diamond jewellery from Mehta & Sons, layered with personal pieces that added just the right amount of sparkle. The look styled by Rhea Kapoor was kept deliberately minimal in hair and makeup to allow the sculptural mask and diamonds to take centre stage.

Miles Chamley-watson

Miles Chamley-Watson chose for the occasion the Move Link 20th Anniversary Necklace and Earrings by Messika Paris.

Léna Mahfouf

Léna Mahfouf wore the My Twin rivière bracelet, My Twin Middle Clip Earring and Move Noa Ciselé Ring by Messika Paris.

Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett added a touch of sparkle to her look with the Night Owl High Jewelry Bracelet, Ring and Earrings, and My Twin Trilogy Ring, all by Messika Paris.