At the 2026 Met Gala, Isha Ambani successfully argued that India is very much present on the global stage through its craftsmanship when she arrived for fashion’s biggest show wearing an exquisite saree that connected the rich past with the present-day elegance. The dress was created by designer Gaurav Gupta and adorned with hand-painted Pichwai elements along with a cape, which was one of his signature elements in designs. The saree used in the design was made of pure gold threads crafted by Swadesh artisans.
The intricate details of the outfit extended to a blouse heavily encrusted with genuine diamonds. In a nod to her personal lineage, Ambani revealed to Vogue on the red carpet that the garment incorporated several of her mother’s own jewellery pieces. Designer Gaurav Gupta later noted that the blouse featured over 1,800 carats of diamonds, emeralds, polki, and kundan. Significantly, the back of the outfit featured a historic sarpech that had been part of the fabulous collection of the Nizam of Hyderabad, making the ensemble a living representation of inheritance.
Furthermore, Ambani’s dedication to the theme “Fashion is Art” was reinforced by the accessories she wore. She carried a mango sculpture created by the renowned contemporary artist, Subodh Gupta, who specialises in transforming common items into large installations, tucked within a crochet bag. Her hair was styled with a structural interpretation of a traditional mogra gajra, handcrafted from paper, copper, and brass by the Brooklyn-based artist Sourabh Gupta.
This appearance followed a thematic precursor at a pre-gala event in New York on May 1, where she wore an exquisite bandage dress. This particular dress was made up of 26 distinct borders, each of which was inspired by a distinctive regional craft tradition from different parts of India. This current pick is an extension of her practice of three years, in which she chose Indian artists to represent in her international events. In 2024, she picked Rahul Mishra and then in 2025, Anamika Khanna.
Also read: Karan Johar ready to debut at Met Gala 2026
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