Isha Ambani Donned Custom Gaurav Gupta For the Met Gala 2026

Businesswoman, philanthropist, and patron of the arts Isha Ambani wore couturier Gaurav Gupta to attend the 106th edition of the Met Gala last night

Isha Ambani, styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania, wore a look that not just caught the eye but also approached ‘Fashion as Art’ with a regional lens for her Met Gala look last night, treating the traditional saree as a living canvas. Through its hand-painted and embroidered elements, plus its sculptural drape, the garment reflected the idea of the dressed body as an artistic medium in itself, bridging centuries of Indian art, craft, and design in a contemporary context among the world’s biggest celebrities.

The inspiration for the look drew upon India’s intricate cultural and textile heritage, evolving the saree as an artisanal couture piece. It was laden with references from ancient Indian frescoes, custom woven with threads of pure gold by master artisans of Swadesh – an ode to India’s traditional arts and master craftsmen. Swadesh is a movement dedicated to preserving and promoting the country’s rich craft heritage, founded at 1905 as to rebuke the colonial supreme.

The striking saree also contains hand-painted pichwai-inspired motifs as the trimming, similarly created by Swadesh experts. Inspired by nature, early Indian architecture, and classical art, the design was rendered in soft gold and earthy tones. The painted surface was further enriched with hand embroidery, where techniques such as Zardozi, Aari work, and relief embroidery come together to add depth, structure, and refined definition. With over 50 artisans working on the saree, more than 1,200 hours were dedicated to creating this piece. The blouse was adorned with jewels sourced from Nita Ambani’s personal collection and complemented by metallic Zardozi hand embroidery, celebrating the enduring legacy of Indian jewellery craftsmanship.

Wearing jewellery by Lorraine Schwartz and from Nita Ambani’s personal collection, Isha’s jewellery styling continued the narrative of collected history and considered design. Composed from old-cut diamonds assembled over years, it weighs over 200 carats, and showcases an extraordinary 50 carat emerald at its heart.

When it came to her hair, Isha opted for a a jasmine hair sculpture inspired by the traditional mogra paranda and gajra. Each jasmine bud and bloom was made from delicate paper, copper and brass, with Indian pigment paint hand-applied for more than 150 hours by Brooklyn-based artist, Sourabh Gupta.

Isha Ambani finished the look by carrying the Subodh Gupta mango sculpture, a refreshing response to this year’s theme, a work of art in hand, and the fruit of the subcontinent – another symbolic nod to her roots, and the final flourish in her ode to her Indian heritage.

Jewellery, Nita Ambani Private Collection, @lorraineschwartz, @kantilalchhotalal. Jasmine Hair Sculpture @sourabh_gupta_studio. Artwork @subodhguptastudo supported by @naturemorte_india. Custom Crochet Bag @3.10byguggi. Makeup, @tanvichemburkar. Hair, @yiannitsapatori. Draping @dolly.jain. Nails @atasia_nails @julieknailsnyc. Production @alexeyg @rachaelpmorgan. Styling assistants, @gupta_eshaaa @harsha.x @69playgirl69.
Make-up assistant @natasha_ramachandran.