A Majestic Ode to Indian Artistry: Vintage Parsi Gara, Real Pearls, and
Radical Elegance Command the Global Stage
The Indian empress of style, Natasha Poonawalla, arrived at the Met Gala 2025 in a custom Manish Malhotra ensemble, interpreting the theme of Black Dandyism through sculptural structure with vintage Parsi Gara embroidery, an ode to her roots.
A soaring celebration of both legacy and innovation, the silhouette defies conventional structure while remaining deeply rooted in heritage. Its very soul draws from the intricate poetry of Parsi Gara embroidery, a treasured heirloom craft. The fishtail skirt was meticulously recreated from two rare vintage Gara saris, one dating back nearly a century from Manish Malhotra’s personal archive. These dual-sided textiles have long embodied a dialogue of artisanal detail and historical depth, and here, they were reawakened with intention. 
Refitted into a fit-to-flare triumph, the skirt’s architecture is framed by shawl lapels sculpted across the hips, an architectural dandy flourish that evokes precision. At its heart, a corset-cummerbund paired with a vintage French lace bralette edged in scalloped pearls, capturing the essence of dandyism, where restraint meets regality in meticulously tailored form. Further transforming the look into a living manifesto: a black Gara jacket, boldly tailored to perfection with oversized shoulders and an exaggerated collar, its lining dyed in imperial purple, a hue depicting power.
Embroidered using the sacred ektaar technique, where one continuous thread charts the narrative, the jacket is a testament to the sheer devotion of Indian artisanship. Each ensemble of this tradition can take years to complete, a timeline that honours the patience, precision, and poetry of heritage.
In choosing to wear this, Poonawalla carried generations of artistic resilience and reinterpreted them for one of fashion’s most influential carpets. “This is our take on dandyism,” said Natasha Poonawalla. “A fusion of heritage and high craft, individuality and structure, and above all, a celebration of identity worn with intention. Personally, I feel a deep connection to my roots, and it felt meaningful to weave that history into this moment.”
A final flourish came with a handcrafted lace neckpiece by Atelier Biser, finished with whimsical freshwater pearl drops, a nod to the romantic flourish of a cravat, sealing the look with quiet theatricality and deliberate drama.
Manish Malhotra, Asia’s most iconic couturier and a tireless custodian of cultural couture, once again transcended the realm of fashion. With this ensemble, he not only resurrects a near-forgotten textile language but recontextualises it within the codes of contemporary dandyism, a space where identity, elegance, and defiance collide.
“For Natasha and me, fashion is always about carrying something deeper, our history, our values, and the art we believe in,” Malhotra shared. “The Gara has always held a sacred place in my heart. It’s not just embroidery; it’s memory stitched in time. Natasha wanted to honour her roots, with purpose and pride. And reimagining that heritage through the lens of Black Dandyism gave us a space to speak of elegance as resistance, craft as power, and style as self-sovereignty. That’s when fashion becomes storytelling.” – Manish Malhotra
More than an outfit. More than a moment. This was a cultural crescendo. A declaration of diasporic pride. A dialogue between legacies, told not in words but in craft.
READ MORE: Is This the Year of the Dream Wedding? Explore the Venues Making Dreams Come True
