Met Gala 2022: Natasha Poonawalla gives her outfit a dramatic desi touch, opts for a gold Sabyasachi saree

Serum Institute of India (SII) Executive Director Natasha Poonawalla represented India in shades of gold at the Met Gala 2022.

The Chairperson of Villoo Poonawalla Foundation opted for a gold handcrafted printed tulle sari with a long trail, created by celebrity designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee.

The 40year-old's gold saree had intricate embroidery with silk floss thread and was embellished with bevel beads, semi-precious stones, crystals, sequins and appliqued printed velvet.

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The jewellery was a curation of custom pieces from Sabyasachi Fine Jewellery and limited edition collectables from Sabyasachi's Curiosity Art & Antiquity Project -- crafted using traditional techniques with precious and semi-precious stones.

With her saree, the entrepreneur paired a hand-forged metal bustier by Maison Schiaparelli, an Italian brand known for its surrealist work, for a dramatic effect.

The design was part of the Sabyasachi's association with Schiaparelli.

Styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania, the entrepreneur-philanthropist completed her look with Christian Louboutin shoes, Anna-Karin Karlsson eyewear, ring by Bhavya Ramesh Jewelry.

Poonawala was the only Indian present at the much-awaited gala, organised by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on Monday evening.

The theme of the Met Gala was 'In America: An Anthology of Fashion', the second part of the Costume Institute's exhibition, which opened on September 18. The first part of the exhibition was reflected in last year's theme, 'In America: A Lexicon of Fashion', which was in celebration of all things American Fashion.

Sabyasachi revealed that Poonawalla wanted to interpret the dress code as ‘gilded glamour’ with a desi twist that displays the country's multi-culturalism and authenticity. The designer's wish to see the saree at an international fashion event has come true this year.

"For me, the saree is a truly unique and versatile garment that owns its identity even as it transcends boundaries and geographies. Back when I was a young fashion student, I often wondered when I would see the saree at big global fashion events like the Met Gala," Mukherjee said in a statement.

Poonawalla previously attended the Met in 2019 for its 'Camp' theme when she wore a custom-made Dundas dress.