When the NMACC first opened its doors in 2023, the world loved the celebrity looks on the carpet. But more than just a gala, the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre is a hub dedicated to celebrating Indian art, fashion, and heritage. And it’s coming to New York.
Now, with the ethos of bringing the best of India to the world, the NMACC will host the Grand Indian Festival at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park in September 2025. Displaying Indian fashion and art, this event will be a space for discovery and celebrating South Asian heritage.
From Ritu Kumar to Rahul Mishra, this exhibition aims to highlight unique Indian fashion and put the spotlight on Indian craftsmanship with an exhibit titled ‘Swadesh’. It will follow through with an invite-only fashion show curated by the iconic Manish Malhotra. It’s safe to say, we can’t wait for September to show up!
Indian fashion seems to finally have its moment in the sun. While spotlighting Indian fashion may look new to some, for most, this is a long time coming. South Asian textiles and craftsmanship have been the base of global fashion for millennia. Cashmere shawls, cotton textiles, Indian calicos and chintz were widely coveted in Europe for centuries. And yet, when it comes to heritage fashion, Indian designs were cut out from the picture.
Now, the days of quietly influencing fashion are gone as Indian designers and the South Asian community call out for credit that is rightfully theirs. And finally, the world seems to hear them back. From the “saree-inspired” gown by Gucci to the eye-roll inducing “Scandinavian scarf”, global fashion can no longer stick to its Eurocentric bubble. And the NMACC making its way to NYC is one way to ensure that.
