Once a niche fundraiser for New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Met Gala has transformed into the ultimate branding battleground for the global fashion industry. Designers, celebrities, and brands come together to create stories, establish cultural dominance, and open up new markets in this carefully planned display of power, prestige, and strategy that goes beyond a red carpet event. Indian designer Manish Malhotra is one of the recent highlights in this vibrant field; his 2024 Met Gala debut signifies not only his own success but also India’s growing influence in the global discourse on luxury fashion.
Cardi B’s appearance in a custom Manish Malhotra gown marked a pivotal moment in the designer’s career. Known for dressing Bollywood celebrities, Malhotra is causing a stir worldwide! In addition to drawing in new customers, he brings Indian couture to a worldwide audience by working with a world-renowned designer. It’s a thrilling occasion that showcases our fashion’s elegance and significance worldwide.
Impact on Branding and Business
Indian designers and celebrities attended the Met Gala, demonstrating India’s growing fashion influence. By dressing A-list celebrities, Cartier and Bvlgari increase their visibility, which benefits a variety of industries, including beauty and technology. After-parties are often hosted by streaming services and makeup brands, making every celebrity sighting a great chance for marketing. When celebrities like Rihanna and Kim Kardashian walk the red carpet, a brand’s or designer’s value can increase by nearly $10 million.
Notable is also India’s growing influence on this ecosystem. Designers such as Sabyasachi, Gaurav Gupta, and Rahul Mishra gently advance India’s soft power by dressing global celebrities.
Designers from all over the world view the Met as the ultimate stage to position their brands. When someone like Zendaya wears a dramatic Thom Browne piece or Rihanna appears in sculptural Maison Margiela, it sets the tone for the brand’s cultural relevance and retail buzz. The value? Enormous. A single viral look can generate millions of dollars in media exposure, countless social shares, and even a spike in sales or waitlists.
Cultural Diplomacy in Couture
And for emerging markets like India, the MET Gala is becoming a tool for cultural diplomacy. Designers like Gaurav Gupta, Sabyasachi, and Rahul Mishra are slowly changing how the world views Indian fashion. India is being viewed as a source of luxury design and narrative, rather than just a manufacturing hub. The growing number of Indian celebrities attending the Met Gala sends a strategic message to the world, rather than just a fashion statement. India is actively participating, setting the tone, and recreating global glamour rather than quietly observing.
Shah Rukh Khan, made a striking debut this year in a custom Sabyasachi outfit, a rare and powerful fusion of traditional Indian menswear with Met Gala flair. His presence did more than turn heads, it turned perceptions. For a star with massive global appeal, SRK’s appearance highlighted the crossover potential of Indian fashion and storytelling on the biggest style stage in the world.
Then came Diljit Dosanjh, whose red carpet moment was both culturally rooted and globally relevant. Known for wearing his identity with pride, Diljit’s look combined a modern silhouette with traditional elements like a turban and embroidered detail. In doing so, he proved that authenticity is the new luxury and gave India’s regional artists and designers a new platform to aspire to. His appearance was a bold reminder that Punjabi culture, music, and fashion are no longer niche, they’re international.
Kiara Advani, representing the new wave of Bollywood elegance, stunned in a sleek, sculpted gown that balanced high fashion with cinematic grace designed by Gaurav Gupta.
The presence of Shah Rukh Khan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Kiara at the Met Gala highlights a larger trend. These celebrities serve as powerful branding assets, promoting Indian designers in global arena, music, and cinema within the international luxury landscape in global presence.
Their participation also bridges the gap between regional pride and global ambition. Each look, each moment, is a carefully calculated piece of cultural diplomacy that helps Indian soft power resonate louder across industries.
Beyond fashion, the Met Gala also operates as a content machine. With platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube amplifying red carpet moments in real time, every outfit becomes a story, a meme, and a commercial all at once. The Met Gala is far more than a night of couture and celebrities, it is a strategic platform for global branding, market expansion, and cultural storytelling.
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