Indian fashion designer Manish Malhotra honored the craft of local workers by stitching the names of artisans onto his attire at the 2026 Met Gala [1].

The gesture brings global visibility to the unnamed laborers who drive the luxury fashion industry, shifting the spotlight from the designer to the creators. By integrating these names into a high-profile garment, Malhotra highlighted the intersection of traditional Indian craftsmanship and modern couture on a world stage.

Malhotra appeared at the event in New York City wearing a black bandhgala paired with a Mumbai-inspired embroidered cape [1]. The garment served as a tribute to the city and the skill of the people who constructed it [1]. According to several reports, the designer stitched the names of 50 artisans directly into the piece [1, 2, 4].

Reports on the scale of the project vary. While some sources state that 50 artisans were honored [1], another report suggests the number was as high as 90 [5]. The labor required to complete the garment also differs across accounts. One source reported that the piece took 960 hours to craft [3], while another claim puts the total at 3,459 hours [5].

The designer used the occasion to celebrate the art inherent in the work of these individuals [4]. The cape's textural drama was intended to reflect the spirit of Mumbai while ensuring the contributors were recognized by name [1].

“Manish Malhotra honored the craft of local workers by stitching the names of artisans onto his attire.”

This move reflects a growing trend in luxury fashion toward 'radical transparency,' where the anonymity of the supply chain is challenged. By naming the craftsmen, Malhotra is pivoting from the traditional 'auteur' model of fashion—where the designer receives all credit—toward a collaborative model that acknowledges the labor-intensive nature of haute couture.