The ancient sari is having a moment in the Western world. It began with actor Zendaya wearing a shimmering hand-embroidered blue sari gown and embellished bralette to a gala night at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Culture Centre in Mumbai in April. The bespoke outfit — which took 3000 hours to make — was designed by Rahul Mishra, the first Indian couturier to show on the official schedule at Paris Haute Couture Week in 2020. The piece inspired a blush and silver version shown at Mishra’s couture show in Paris last month.
American actress Zendaya attends the second day inaugural function of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai, India, Saturday, April 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
Zendaya at the opening of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai, India, in April 2023.
Rajanish Kakade/AP.
At the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, Bollywood star Deepika Padukone made several best-dressed lists in a glittering black and gold sari from Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. Then in May, the garment made appearances at the 2023 Met Gala — when model Naomi Campbell wore an archival pink sari-inspired dress by Chanel dating back to 2010 — and at Windsor Castle for celebrations marking King Charles III’s coronation, where businesswoman Natasha Poonawalla teamed a nude sheer sari with a Burberry body suit.