Mumbai, August 16, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Actress Athiya Shetty recently turned muse for fashion designer Manish Malhotra as he highlighted the enduring appeal of Indian handloom, Bandhani and the saree through a contemporary fashion look.
Athiya featured in Malhotra’s timeless Bandhani handloom saree, pairing the traditional drape with statement jewellery, including a necklace and earrings. She kept her hair open and opted for subtle makeup, completing an elegant and understated look.
Malhotra shared pictures of Athiya on Instagram while reflecting on his long association with India’s traditional textiles. He said handloom, Bandhani and sarees have remained an important part of his creative journey for decades, from his work on film costumes to his fashion collections.
“Handloom. Bandhani. Colour. The saree. Treasures of Indian fashion that I have personally loved and worked with for decades — from creating costumes for the movies to my collections today,” he wrote.
For the designer, tradition is not simply about preserving the past but about finding contemporary ways to connect with it.
“For me, tradition has never been about looking back. It’s about loving it, living it and constantly finding a new way to make it your own,” Malhotra added while describing Athiya as “gorgeous and chic” in his Bandhani handloom saree.
Malhotra has incorporated several Indian regional textiles, including Kanchipuram, Paithani and Bandhani, into his couture collections and film designs.
His appreciation for traditional textiles developed further during his work in the Hindi film industry in the early 1990s, including collaborations with actors such as Sridevi that exposed him to the richness of South Indian fabrics and indigenous weaves.
Over the years, the designer has also collaborated with weavers and artisans to create bespoke sarees and ensembles that retain the character of traditional Indian craftsmanship while giving them a contemporary aesthetic.
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