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7 Times Indian Fashion Made A Mark On The World Stage

From Cannes red carpets to global runways, explore how Indian fashion fused tradition, pop culture, and couture to make bold statements worldwide.

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Zia Khan
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Photograph: (Getty Images)

Indian fashion has always turned heads — but today, it's turning global runways, red carpets, and even street-style moments into a celebration of desi culture. From crystal-studded saris at Cannes to embroidered lehengas, bandhgalas, and turbans at the Met Gala, Indo-pop fashion is making bold, unforgettable statements far beyond its borders.

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These aren’t just token nods to the East. They’re full-blown tributes — worn by global icons, styled by Indian designers, and rooted deeply in tradition. Whether it’s Gigi Hadid in chikankari, Zendaya in Rahul Mishra, or Diljit in his Punjabi best, these looks prove one thing: Indian fashion isn’t just visiting the global stage — it owns it now. Let’s look at the most striking moments when Indian attire went viral, couture, and absolutely unforgettable.

1. Alia Bhatt in Gucci’s Swarovski-Crystal Sari at Cannes 2025

At the Cannes 2025 closing ceremony, Alia stunned in Gucci’s first-ever take on the Indian sari. The crystal-embellished sheer silhouette featured a GG monogram, a straight-fit skirt, and a dupatta-style drape, blending Indian tradition with Italian high fashion. Styled by Rhea Kapoor, this look wasn’t just glam — it was history in shimmer.

2. Kardashian Sisters in Manish Malhotra at Ambani Wedding (2024)

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When Kim and Khloé Kardashian walked into Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding festivities, they did it in full desi splendour. Draped in custom Manish Malhotra lehengas, Kim chose a stunning gold and beige look with a matching dupatta, while Khloé opted for a rich red ensemble. The intricate embroidery, mirror work, and silhouette styling brought Bollywood glamour to global pop royalty, making this one of the most viral Indo-pop fashion moments of the year.

3. Beyoncé in Gaurav Gupta: Indian Glamour Hits the Renaissance Tour

During her Renaissance Tour in 2023, Beyoncé surprised the world by stepping out in a sculptural designer Gaurav Gupta. The dramatic silhouette featured the label’s neon-green sari-inspired ensemble by Indians signature structured drape, blending futuristic design with the essence of Indian attire. With flowing pallu-like trails and a high-slit twist, this was not just a stage outfit — it was a powerful fusion of global pop stardom and Indian couture energy.

4. Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton SS26 Show, Paris Fashion Week (2025)

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At Paris Fashion Week 2025, Pharrell Williams turned the Louis Vuitton runway into a vibrant tribute to Indian culture. The show opened with an A.R. Rahman remix, featured a Snakes & Ladders-themed runway, and even had BTS’s J-Hope grooving in the front row. It wasn’t just fashion — it was India-meets-global-pop, stitched into every detail.

Some of the displayed LV trunks were crystal-studded; others featured elephants and palm trees—symbols rich with cultural significance across South and Southeast Asia. The collection also nodded to The Darjeeling Limited, with cross-continental flora and fauna, crystals embedded into hoodies, and mini frogs perched on suits.

 

5. Diljit Dosanjh at the Met Gala 2025: Punjabi Pride Meets High Fashion

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Diljit made history at the 2025 Met Gala by becoming the first turbaned Sikh to walk the red carpet in full traditional Punjabi attire — a crisp ivory kurta, flowing tehmat, long overcoat, and his signature turban. Styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania, the look was minimalist yet deeply rooted, standing out amidst extravagant couture. On a night themed around “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” Diljit brought timeless culture, grace, and quiet confidence, making desi wear unapologetically mainstream.

6. Sonali Dasgupta at Cannes 1959: The Sari’s First Global Red Carpet Moment

Way back in 1959, writer and filmmaker Sonali Dasgupta made quite a history at the Cannes Film Festival. Draped in a traditional cotton sari with minimal jewellery and a bindi, she became one of the earliest Indian women to bring the sari to an international red carpet, long before fashion diplomacy became a trend. Her understated elegance wasn’t about spectacle, but about self-assured cultural pride, making it one of the most iconic (and undercelebrated) Indo-pop fashion moments of all time.

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Director Roberto Rossellini and writer Sonali Dasgupta were photographed at the Carlton Hotel
during the Cannes film festival in 1959. Photograph: (Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

7. Zendaya in Rahul Mishra at NMACC 2023: Couture Meets Kanjeevaram Energy

At the grand opening of Mumbai’s Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, Zendaya turned heads in a dazzling custom Rahul Mishra creation — a midnight blue sari-gown with an embroidered cape. The look featured Mishra’s signature handcrafted motifs, drawing inspiration from Indian forests and mythology. Paired with soft glam and minimal jewellery, the ensemble was a striking blend of Hollywood elegance and Indian craftsmanship, proving that Indian couture doesn’t just belong on Indian bodies — it belongs on every global icon.

8. Gigi Hadid in Chikankari Sharara at NMACC 2023: Lucknowi Elegance Goes Global

At the star-studded NMACC opening in Mumbai, Gigi Hadid stunned in an ivory Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla chikankari saree on the red carpet, complete with a flowing dupatta and delicate pearl embroidery. The look was ethereal and rooted — a graceful nod to Lucknowi handcraft, worn with the poise of a modern-day maharani. Her styling — a sleek bun, pearl studs for earrings, and statement South Indian style bangles — made the ensemble feel less costume, more couture, proving that Indian tradition can walk the global stage with ease.

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