At the Met Gala 2026, Hyderabad-based entrepreneur Sudha Reddy delivered one of the most striking appearances of the night, combining high jewellery, couture craftsmanship, and cultural storytelling in a look that instantly became one of the event’s highlights.
Dressed in a custom creation by Manish Malhotra, Reddy embraced the theme “Costume Art” through an ensemble inspired by the “Tree of Life.” The outfit featured sculpted velvet, antique gold zari, intricate zardozi embroidery, and motifs rooted in Indian heritage such as the Palapitta, Jammi Chettu, Kalpavriksha, Tangedu, Surya, and Chandra. The design was intended to reinterpret centuries-old textile traditions through a contemporary global lens.
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However, it was her jewellery that dominated attention on the red carpet. Reddy wore a private collection necklace valued at approximately USD 15 million (around Rs 142 crore), making it one of the most expensive accessories seen at the event. The statement piece featured a Victorian-style chain adorned with pear- and triangle-cut rose diamonds arranged in floral clusters, culminating in a rare 550-carat deep violet-blue tanzanite pendant sourced from Tanzania’s Merelani Hills, known as the “Queen of Merelani.”
She paired the necklace with a 30-carat polki diamond ring and a 40-carat Asscher-cut Colombian emerald surrounded by a diamond halo set in 18-carat yellow gold, completing a look that fused heritage jewellery with modern opulence.
Reddy described her ensemble as a reflection of Hyderabad’s cultural identity, noting that it was designed to translate Indian artistic sensibilities onto a global stage while preserving their traditional essence. She emphasized the extensive craftsmanship behind the look, highlighting thousands of hours of handwork and generational artistry that went into its creation.
Making her Met Gala debut in 2021, Sudha Reddy has steadily built a reputation for statement appearances that merge fashion with cultural expression, and her 2026 look further cemented her position as one of the evening’s most talked-about guests.
