DUBAI: US Dutch Palestinian supermodel Gigi Hadid attended the opening weekend celebrations of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Center in Mumbai on Saturday in decadent traditional Indian attire by luxury label Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla.
The model showed off the label’s gold hued Chikankari sari and posed on the red carpet on night two of the opening event. The sari comes courtesy of designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, each a powerhouse in the world of Indian fashion in their own right.
“This was a dream!” Hadid captioned a short clip of herself wearing the sari on Instagram Stories.
Meanwhile, the model showed off a colorful ensemble by couturier Rahul Mishra — the first Indian designer to stage a runway show on the official Paris Haute Couture Week calendar — on the red carpet the night before.
“Thank you Rahul Mishra and the artisans for your talent and time to make this incredibly intricate and special piece. It is an honor to wear your work and celebrate Indian craftsmanship,” the catwalk star wrote on Instagram.
Also adding to the style quotient at the star-studded event was Bollywood star Alia Bhatt, who was spotted in Lebanese designer Elie Saab's haute couture gown from the Spring-Summer 2023 collection.
The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Center in Mumbai, housed within the Jio Global Center in Bandra-Kurla Complex, aims to preserve and promote Indian arts.
Hadid walked the star-studded pink carpet alongside the likes of Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor and Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani.
The event was also attended by British actor Tom Holland, Emmy-winning US actress Zendaya and Spanish star Penelope Cruz.
Cruz showed off a pink, feathered gown by Tamara Ralph, while Zendaya stunned in a Rahul Mishra sari alongside celebrity stylist Law Roach, who just announced his retirement.
The center is focused on showcasing Indian art, culture, fashion, performance arts and more.
“The NMACC is envisioned as a platform to spotlight Indian arts and culture at its best, both for the audience and the artists,” reads a message from its founder Nita M. Ambani on the center’s website. “A truly inclusive centre for performers and visitors, for dreamers and creators, for one and all. With world-class infrastructure and robust programming, our aim is to make the arts accessible to everyone,” she added.