May 05, 2026 5:23am IST
Met Gala 2026: Sudha Reddy Pays Homage To South Indian Heritage In Custom Couture
At the 2026 Met Gala, billionaire philanthropist and style icon Sudha Reddy returned to the red carpet with a look that balanced spectacle with substance. Wearing a custom creation by India’s leading couturier, Manish Malhotra**, Reddy championed the centuries-old textile art of Kalamkari through an ensemble titled ‘The Tree of Life.’
Conceived in collaboration with global celebrity stylist Mariel Haenn, the look reinterpreted the 3,000-year-old Machilipatnam style of Kalamkari through a contemporary lens. Traditionally hand-painted with natural dyes, the art form’s most enduring motif — the Tree of Life — became the central anchor of the ensemble, symbolising the interconnectedness of all life forms.
“Hyderabad is my foundation and this ensemble is a translation of that cultural identity into a language that is both global and deeply personal. 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,” says Sudha Reddy.
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The ensemble was realised over 3,459 hours by more than 90 artisans. It featured a sculpted, corseted silhouette in deep royal blue, merging antique gold zari embroidery with intricate zardozi across velvet, silk, and tulle. A seven-metre trail unfurled with peacock motifs, while a sheer tulle cape offered delicate depictions of Hyderabad’s flora and fauna. The look was topped with a dramatic hand-crafted metal installation at the upper back, featuring a vine of brass, copper, and silver.
“Fashion, for me, has always been about the emotion behind the image. 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,” shares Manish Malhotra.
The sapphire-wash palette extended into Reddy’s personal jewellery collection, valued at $15 million. The centerpiece was a Victorian-finished necklace featuring the 550-carat ‘Queen of Merelani’ tanzanite, complemented by a 40-carat Colombian emerald ring and a 30-carat rose-cut polki diamond from Rajasthan. A crystal-encrusted Dolce & Gabbana minaudière provided the final flourish.
“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. 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,” shares Mariel Haenn.
With beauty directed by Haenn and executed with minimalist precision — soft contouring and a sleek low ponytail, Reddy’s appearance was less a red-carpet walk and more a museum-worthy exhibition of heritage-led maximalism.
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