Functional and ubiquitous in Indian kitchens, stainless steel would hardly be called a precious metal worthy of the Met Gala. But on the biggest night in fashion, amidst a sea of diamonds and Swarovski crystals, a shiny mask fashioned out of spoons, dabbas, and karchis hit the red carpet.
Styled by Rhea Kapoor, the artist and entrepreneur Ananya Birla arrived wearing Robert Wun couture with a custom headpiece by celebrated Indian artist Subodh Gupta, a nod to the gala’s dress code, “Fashion Is Art.”
The Hong Kong-born couturier crafted a silk-wool-cotton blazer cut with a plunging neckline and a flared peplum hem. Underneath, a powder blue wool-silk shirt introduced a workwear reference, nodding to the Birla industrial legacy, while the pleated ballroom skirt, made in gunmetal glass organza, ramped up the volume.
But the most striking feature of Birla’s look was on her face. Gupta’s mask was made from stainless steel and acrylic, using traditional Indian utensils as its starting point. Birla describes it as “a helmet and a disguise at once”—an object that obscures identity while creating impact. “While it looks like a skull, it’s made of something quite ordinary that’s been put together and made extraordinary.”
Photo: Rafael Pavarotti
Kapoor was interested in contemporary Indian sculpture precisely because it is not always the first association people make with Indian art on a global fashion carpet. “When I started thinking about sculpture, I obviously thought about the different shades of Indian art, but contemporary sculpture is what really stood out for me,” she says.
The stylist points to the way everyday materials such as cotton and jute formed the basis of India’s early industrial empires. “The shirt and the jacket are inspired by workwear,” Kapoor says, linking the choice to Gupta’s interest in every day objects and the working individual.
Birla also wore a diamond necklace designed by her father, adding a personal element to the look. Hair and makeup were kept close to how Birla usually presents herself, leaving the blazer, skirt, and especially the mask to shine.
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