New York, May 5 -- At the 2026 Met Gala, billionaire philanthropist and style icon Sudha Reddy, who hails from Hyderabad, returned to the red carpet with a look that balanced spectacle with substance, wearing a custom creation by India's leading couturier Manish Malhotra. Conceived in collaboration with global celebrity stylist Mariel Haenn, the ensemble titled 'The Tree of Life' was a profound dialogue between heritage, craftsmanship and contemporary couture.

Rooted in Machilipatnam style of Kalamkari, one of India's oldest textile traditions, the look reinterpreted the 3,000-year-old storied art form through a contemporary, sculptural lens. Traditionally hand-painted with natural dyes, Kalamkari is known for its intricate depictions of...