Natasha Poonawalla creates fashion moments, and with each look, she serves glamour in a way that not everyone can carry off. The philanthropist and socialite has been putting India and its traditional arts and crafts on the map with almost all her ensembles.
A recurring celebrity at the Met Gala since 2022, Natasha Poonawalla opted to start early this year and just shared a pre-Met Gala look. She was styled by Rhea Kapoor and took to the New York City streets in a look that was simultaneously stunning and very much Indian in its roots.
Breaking down the look, Rhea Kapoor took to Instagram to share a series of photos of Natasha Poonawalla, who can be seen carrying this fit in the most elegant way.
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Rhea Kapor
wrote, “On this Spring evening in New York, @natasha.poonawalla wears a custom warm ivory muga silk sari ensemble by @arpita__mehta , hand-embroidered with Kantha (sic).”
The stylist goes on to explain what Kantha is, which she shares is “an ancient, eco-conscious embroidery tradition from Bengal, where old saris and dhotis were repurposed into layered textiles. In this ensemble, that philosophy is preserved, bringing together fragments of lived histories with a fresh, contemporary perspective.”
Kantha embroidery originates from a deeply personal and sustainable practice, where layers of worn saris and dhotis were hand-stitched together using a simple running stitch. These textiles were not merely functional; they served as intimate memory pieces, often carrying fragments of family histories across generations.
Natasha Poonawalla wore a custom couture ensemble by Arpita Mehta, which featured a backless, rombus-shaped blouse with a pleated skirt that replicated those that are added to a saree. While the initial sketch also had a skinny pallu attached to the front of the skirt and that would be draped on her shoulder, the actual outfit skipped it. She instead added the flow and movement of the fabric with an exaggerated Chanderi silk cape that was draped on her arms and added a contemporary, sculptural dimension.
The hand-stitched kantha had several nature-inspired designs along with folklore. Floral and vine patterns symbolise growth and continuity, while birds and animals evoke freedom and companionship. Elements like the sun, circles, and mandalas reflect energy, protection, and the cyclical nature of life, while fish motifs (significant in Bengali culture) represent prosperity and abundance. Scenes and abstract forms further bring in a sense of lived experiences and imagination.
This marked the designer’s first exploration of this heritage craft. Staying true to Kantha’s essence, the embroidery embraces irregularity where no two stitches or motifs are identical, lending the garment a sense of individuality and quiet intimacy.
The look is completed with custom earrings from the Shri Paramani Jewels in collaboration with Arpita Mehta, and was paired with traditional Indian jadau jewellery. She also wore a Navratan choker as a bajuband along with an emerald choker, earrings, and a peacock ring. Believing in the concept that more is more, Natasha Poonawalla wore a crocodile kada, a tiger kada and a peacock kada.
