Nita Ambani’s Jamdani sari features Lord Krishna’s motifs outlined with gold and silver threadwork
Nita Ambani is known for consistently spotlighting Indian crafts and handloom textiles. At the TIME100 Summit in New York, she turned to a Jamdani sari from Swadesh, handwoven by Padma Shree awardee Biren Kumar Basak from Phulia, West Bengal. For another public appearance in Gir, Gujarat, she wore a woven Jamawar sari by designer Tarun Tahiliani. This time around, for a ceremonial ritual at her residence, Ambani turned to an ivory-champagne sari.
The luminous sari featured appliqué designs of Lord Krishna, flanked by two cows and interspersed with coconut trees across the body. Gold and silver threadwork outlined the appliqué, while intricate beadwork brought the motifs to life in shades of pink, blue, green and white. A gold woven floral vine motif ran across the body of the sari, while a peach scalloped hem completed the border. Sari draper Pooja Dhannure styled the sari in the traditional seedha pallu style. Ambani paired the sari with a matching champagne blouse featuring gold thread and gota patti embroidery along the sleeves.
Ambani accessorised the look with a tiered diamond necklace, matching stud earrings, a stack of diamond bangles and a statement ring from her personal collection. Ambani kept her beauty look minimal with kohl-rimmed eyes, pink lips and a red bindi, courtesy of makeup artist Shayli Nayak. Hairstylist Sourav Roy styled Ambani’s hair in a centre-parted bun adorned with pink, white and green flowers.
Ambani has consistently championed the initiative by wearing creations from Swadesh—the heritage handloom initiative she founded in 2023—to several public appearances. While receiving the AAPI Humanitarian Award in Florida, USA, Ambani chose a Kanchipuram sari that drew inspiration from traditional Thanjavur paintings. Later, at the Venice Biennale, she layered her chiffon-georgette sari with a handwoven Butidar Sozni shawl from Swadesh, which stole the show with its delicate pink motifs.
From Vogue‘s fashion desk:
“Nita Ambani makes a case for art being on our clothing too. Why not opt for blouses featuring Mata Ni Pachedi, Pen Kalamkari, Gond or Jaipur Miniature Art. That way you can pair your blouse with a simple handloom or chiffon. plain sari keeping the blouse as the focal point but it makes the look more everyday. Pair this with a flower in your low bun for a pop of color, glass bangles and some kohled eyes,” says Divya Balakrishnan, Vogue India fashion associate.
