Met Gala 2026: Manish Malhotra Pays Tribute To 50 Artisans, Showcases Indian Craft To The World - PICS

Met Gala 2026 Red Carpet: Manish Malhotra returned to the Met Gala 2026 with a dramatic embroidered cape that honoured 50 artisans, required 960 hours of labour, and placed Indian craftsmanship at the centre of fashion’s global stage during the Costume Art celebration at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

This appearance marked Manish Malhotra’s second time at fashion’s high-profile event, yet the designer treated it as a deeply 'personal’ couture statement. The look highlighted the creative bond between Manish Malhotra Atelier, the artisans in Delhi and Mumbai, and the city that has guided the designer’s visual language for decades.

Manish Malhotra Met Gala 2026 couture and artisans

The standout cape featured three-dimensional sculpted figurines that turned the garment into a moving tribute to craftspeople. Each figurine symbolised members of Manish Malhotra’s atelier, with the design meant as both a salute to their skills and a clear assertion that Indian handwork belongs at the forefront of international couture conversations.

Styled over an Indian bandhgala, the architectural cape transformed the traditional silhouette into a walking canvas. The sleeve carried the word “Mumbai”, underlining how the City of Dreams shaped Manish Malhotra’s aesthetic, cinema projects, and design language while also housing many of the artisans who contributed to the look.

Manish Malhotra underlined this idea on Instagram, writing, “Fashion is art/artisan”. Manish Malhotra further posted, “For my appearance at the Met Gala, I wanted to create something deeply personal- a reflection of Mumbai, the city that has shaped my journey, my cinema, and my sense of design, along with the atelier that brings my vision to life every day- my work family”.

Manish Malhotra Met Gala 2026 Mumbai-inspired embroidery details

A Manish Malhotra couture piece often relies on heritage techniques, and this cape continued that practice. The garment included dori work, zardozi, chikankari, and kasab, all rendered by hand. These techniques appeared in a calm palette of white and ivory, keeping focus on texture, structure, and narrative rather than loud colour contrasts.

The surface design extended beyond abstract patterns. References to Mumbai’s cinematic landmarks and the actual names of artisans appeared across the cape, turning it into a literal storyboard. Manish Malhotra finished the look with a statement brooch and collar pins from Manish Malhotra High Jewellery, echoing the sculptural theme.

Key detail	Specification
Total artisans involved	50
Crafting time	960 hours
Cities of production	Delhi and Mumbai
Core techniques	Dori work, zardozi, chikankari, kasab
Primary colours	White and ivory

Beyond a personal appearance, he also shaped Met Gala 2026 wardrobes for others. The designer created art-led, polished ensembles for Karan Johar and Camila Mendes, reinforcing the atelier’s role in presenting Indian design ideas alongside international labels on the same carpet.

The Met Gala, held every year on the first Monday in May, raises essential funds for The Costume Institute. Proceeds support exhibitions, publications, new acquisitions, daily operations, and other museum programmes. The 2026 event drew a long guest list, including Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, Zoë Kravitz, Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Gwendoline Christie, Alex Consani, Misty Copeland, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Paloma Elsesser, LISA, Chloe Malle, Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor, Lauren Wasser, Anna Weyant, A'ja Wilson, Yseult, Adut Akech, Angela Bassett, Sinéad Burke, Rebecca Hall, Aimee Mullins, Amy Sherald, and Chase Sui Wonders.

Several well-known Indian faces joined Manish Malhotra at Met Gala 2026, including Isha Ambani, Karan Johar, Natasha Poonawalla and Ananya Birla among others. Together with Manish Malhotra’s Mumbai-inspired couture and focus on artisans, their presence reinforced how Indian fashion and culture remained visible within the broader narrative of the Costume Art celebration.