Isha Ambani at the Met Gala 2025: An Homage to Indian Craftsmanship and Modern Tailoring

At the 2025 Met Gala, Isha Ambani emerged as a true ambassador of Indian heritage and contemporary fashion. Her presence on the blue carpet was a visual symphony of tradition, innovation, and opulence-a look that seamlessly wove together the evening’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” theme with the grandeur of Indian textile and jewelry craftsmanship.

The Designer and Vision: Anamika Khanna’s Couture Alchemy

Entrusted with Isha’s Met Gala vision, designer Anamika Khanna set out to create a look that would honor both the tailored codes of the gala’s theme and the intricate artistry of Indian textiles. The design process began months in advance, with Khanna and her atelier collaborating closely with the Swadesh initiative (Reliance’s handloom revival project) to source rare, handwoven Benarasi silks. The fabric, a luminous ivory and black check, was custom-loomed by master weavers in Varanasi using age-old techniques, then shipped to Khanna’s Kolkata studio for transformation.

Khanna’s approach was to blend masculine and feminine, structure and softness. The foundation: sharply tailored black trousers and a fitted white corset, both cut to precision. The showstopper was the sweeping cape and matching waistcoat, constructed from the Benarasi silk and engineered to move with regal fluidity. Over 15,000 hours were invested in the ensemble’s embroidery and construction-a testament to the dedication of India’s artisans.

Craftsmanship: A Tapestry of Techniques

The cape and waistcoat were canvases for a medley of Indian embroidery techniques. Zardozi, a centuries-old craft involving metallic threads, was used to create intricate 3D floral and bow motifs. Each bow was hand-cut from silk and organza, then layered and stitched to evoke the playful spirit of dandyism while referencing the classic bowtie in a distinctly feminine way. The embroidery was further embellished with pearls, semi-precious stones, and tiny mirrors, adding dimension and a gentle shimmer under the Met’s lights.

Pearl tassels, meticulously strung and hand-sewn, cascaded from the hem and shoulders, echoing the movement of the cape and adding a touch of Gatsby-esque glamour. Hidden within the embroidery were “Easter eggs”-personal motifs and symbols meaningful to Isha and her family, making the garment not just couture, but a deeply personal heirloom.

Accessories: A Curated Collection of Heritage Jewels

Isha’s jewelry was a masterclass in styling and storytelling. The centerpiece was a vintage-inspired diamond necklace from her mother Nita Ambani’s collection, modeled after the legendary Cartier “Toussaint” necklace created for the Maharaja of Nawanagar. The necklace featured two rows of large, cushion-cut diamonds (the largest an 80.73-carat stone), connected by three more diamonds and finished with a dramatic pendant-an ode to India’s royal past.

In her hair, Isha wore two antique Moi Jonah brooches, shaped like swallows in flight and encrusted with diamonds, pearls, and hessonite, with delicate meenakari (enamel) work on the reverse. These brooches, borrowed from her mother’s vault, were repurposed as hair accessories, adding a whimsical yet regal touch.

On her hip, Isha wore a kalgi-a traditional turban ornament-reimagined as a waist brooch. The kalgi featured a spray of diamonds and mint-green stones, set in a feathered motif that symbolized both movement and freedom. Her fingers sparkled with statement rings, including the iconic Tiffany & Co. “Bird on a Rock” and a rare solitaire from her personal collection.

Styling: Tailored Elegance Meets Playful Individuality

Anaita Shroff Adajania’s styling brought the look together with a keen eye for detail and narrative. Isha’s hair was styled in a sleek, low braid, woven with pearl-encrusted bird clips-an homage to hope and the migratory spirit of the Indian diaspora. Her makeup was kept ethereal and luminous: softly bronzed skin, nude lips, and a subtle smokey eye that allowed the ensemble and jewels to shine.

A dandy-inspired hat, perched at a jaunty angle, finished the look-tying together the Met Gala’s tailoring theme with Isha’s own playful sense of individuality.

The Creation Story: A Race Against Time

The final fitting took place just 48 hours before the event, with last-minute adjustments made to ensure every detail was perfect. Artisans worked around the clock, hand-finishing embroidery and attaching the final pearl tassels. The ensemble was shipped from Kolkata to New York in a custom trunk, with a dedicated team on standby for any on-site tweaks.

A Living Tribute

Anamika Khanna described the look as “a living conversation between the past and the present, tradition and reinvention.” For Isha, it was a way to honor her family’s legacy and the artisans behind India’s textile renaissance, while making a bold, modern statement on the world’s most-watched red carpet.

Isha Ambani’s Met Gala 2025 ensemble was not just a fashion moment-it was a celebration of Indian artistry, a showcase of generational craftsmanship, and a vision of how heritage can be reimagined for the future.