New York City, May 5 -- Billionaire philanthropist Sudha Reddy walked the 2026 Met Gala carpet, turning attention towards Indian textile traditions, as she walked the red carpet in a custom outfit designed by Manish Malhotra.

Held in New York on May 5, the event saw Reddy wear an ensemble titled 'The Tree of Life', which drew from the traditional Kalamkari art form from South India. The outfit was created over 3,459 hours by more than 90 artisans and brought together several handwork techniques.

The design was inspired by the Machilipatnam style of Kalamkari, known for its hand-painted details and use of natural dyes. The 'Tree of Life' motif formed the core of the outfit, symbolising growth and connection. The look also included elemen...