Met Gala 2025: Who is Natasha Poonawalla? ‘The Empress' fashion icon brings Indian Gara embroidery at the event
Natsha, 43, is a businesswoman, wife of Adar Poonawalla, with a passion for design and fashion. She plays a crucial role in Serum Institute of India (SII) as the Executive Director.
When it comes to her education, she graduated from Savitribai Phule Pune University and later earned a Master's degree from London School of Economics and Political Science.
She married to Adar in 2006 whom she met at a New Year's Eve party in Goa which was hosted by business tycoon Vijay Mallya, and they have two sons, Cyrus and Darius.
Besides business successes, they have been praised for their philanthropic efforts, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Serum Institute played an important role in vaccine production.
She is often spotted on the red carpets of prestigious events like the Met Gala, where her bold fashion choices consistently make a statement and challenge conventions.
Styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania and Lakshmi Lehr, Natasha's outfit was a masterclass in storytelling through fashion. At its core was a corseted, sculptural silhouette that seamlessly blended the intricate heritage of Indian Gara embroidery with the bold structure of Western tailoring.
The ensemble featured a reimagined fishtail skirt, meticulously crafted from two antique Gara saris, one over 100 years old, carefully revived from Malhotra's archives. Its hand-embroidered fabric unfolded like a woven narrative, each motif rich with generational craftsmanship and artisanal finesse.
Embroidered with the rare ektaar technique, where a single thread creates an unbroken pattern, the black Gara jacket became a symbol of continuity and subtle defiance. Underneath, a vintage French lace bralette edged with pearls paired with a corset-cummerbund, blending elegance with the controlled flamboyance characteristic of dandyism.
According to Malhotra, Natasha was 'The Empress of Indian Fashion".
First Published: 6 May 2025, 08:32 AM IST
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