As the world reflects on the extraordinary life of Valentino Garavani, memories of his most defining moments in fashion are being revisited with renewed reverence. Among them is a chapter that stands apart
for its rarity and cultural resonance – an exquisite lehenga that marked the legendary house’s first and only foray into Indian bridal couture.
Created in 2018 for Isha Ambani’s post-wedding reception in Mumbai, the ensemble represented more than a bespoke commission. It was a meeting of two worlds: Roman couture tradition and Indian ceremonial splendour, crafted at a moment when fashion, legacy, and global luxury converged.
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Isha Ambani’s Mumbai reception was no ordinary celebration. For the occasion, Maison Valentino stepped beyond its European lexicon to reinterpret Indian bridalwear – an unprecedented move for a house synonymous with gowns, not lehengas. Though Valentino Garavani himself had retired by then, the creation bore his enduring codes: romanticism, symmetry, and quiet opulence. The result was not an experiment, but a statement which was measured, respectful, and deeply considered.
The bespoke lehenga unfolded in tones of antique gold, echoing the warmth and grandeur of Indian wedding traditions. Floral motifs, delicate lacework, and painstaking embroidery brought together Indian artisanal techniques with Valentino’s refined couture sensibility.
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A heavily embellished blouse anchored the look, while a matching dupatta edged with intricate zari added ceremonial gravitas. Every detail reflected restraint rather than excess – a hallmark of the Valentino aesthetic, even when translated into an unfamiliar silhouette.
Isha Ambani completed the ensemble with diamonds – an heirloom-style necklace, earrings, a mang tikka, and sculptural bracelets – allowing the craftsmanship of the lehenga to remain the focal point.
What truly elevated the creation was its afterlife. The lehenga was later enshrined at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre’s inaugural exhibition, recognising it not just as couture, but as cultural history. It remains the only lehenga ever produced by the Valentino fashion house.
