The only Indian who glitters like gold at Met Gala 2021

Besieged with admiration and engulfed with flashlights, the moment she stepped out of the car, philanthropist Suddha Reddy represented India at Met Gala 2021 in dazzling gold handcrafted dress, diamond-encrusted ear cuff by Farah Ali Khan, Chanel sequined gold stilettos, and the Ganesha clutch. 

Being the only Indian invited at the Met Gala 2021, “fashion’s biggest spectacle” and a fundraising benefit event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Philanthropist Sudha Reddy represented India in her custom gown designed by Falguni and Shane Peacock, a diamond-encrusted ear cuff by Farah Ali Khan, Chanel sequined gold stilettos and the Ganesha clutch by Judith Leiber.

Abiding by the conviction that there is a need for more South Asian representation at global fashion events, she was clear and explicit as daylight in her brief to the designers that a sense of Indianness should remain intact in her whole outfit while adhering to the gala theme “American Independence”. In the spirit of the 2020 U.S. Presidential Elections, the gala’s theme was ‘In America: A Lexicon of Fashion’. 

Not just her glittering gown which took 250-plus hours of handwork and was constructed around a bright gold sculptured gown, the dramatic four-meter train has a medley of colours borrowed from the American flag and is accented with 3D embellishments of Swarovski crystals, sequins and bugle beads but eye-catching ear cuff with diamond-encrusted stars inspired by the stars in the American flag and Ganesha clutch, the whole ensemble turned out to be a head-turner.

Existing since 1948, the Met Gala has always been a star-spangled fashion and art event which hosts young creatives, and industry stalwarts. In recent years the event has become quite a sensation, thanks to the revolutionary transition in social media.