The Rise of Indian Couture: Taking Center Stage at the World’s Biggest Red Carpets

The Rise of Desi Designers in Global Events

Indian couture is no longer confined to bridal fashion or traditional occasions. It’s now a bold and artistic voice on international red carpets—be it the Met Gala, Cannes Film Festival, or Oscars. What once symbolized ethnic identity now represents avant-garde fashion.

Key Designers Leading the Charge

🧵 Sabyasachi Mukherjee

From Priyanka Chopra to Deepika Padukone and now Shah Rukh Khan, Sabyasachi’s regal textures and heritage-inspired embroidery have become synonymous with opulence.

🌊 Gaurav Gupta

He stunned the world with his sculptural metallic gowns on Aishwarya Rai and Cardi B. His aesthetic blends futurism with mythology, making him a favorite among risk-takers.

🌸 Anamika Khanna

She’s known for blending traditional techniques with abstract draping—like Isha Ambani’s Met Gala corset that took 15,000 hours to make.

✨ Manish Malhotra

Still a Bollywood red carpet staple, but now entering global visibility thanks to collaborative looks with Natasha Poonawalla and Isha Ambani.

Indian Textiles & Embellishments as Luxury

Indian couture has long championed:

• Zardozi, gota, chikankari, and mirror work
• Silks, velvets, and Banarasi brocades
• Kundan, polki, and Swarovski detailing

These elements are now framed as luxury artistry, comparable to haute couture from Paris.

Celebrities Making Indian Fashion Go Viral

From SRK’s tiger scepter at Met Gala to Priyanka’s polka-dot couture suit to Diljit’s Gurmukhi-inscribed turban, Indian celebrities are embracing their roots while rewriting fashion rules.

Their influence:

• Normalizes diversity in global fashion
• Amplifies Indian craftsmanship on international stages
• Encourages fusion wear like saree-gowns, kurta-jumpsuits, and sherwani-blazers

What This Means for the Future

• Indian designers may soon be regular names at Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks
• Fusion couture will evolve further: Think lehenga-tailcoats, dhoti-trousers, caped sarees
• Global brands are taking cues—from Dior’s India shows to Gucci’s silk adaptations