Madhuri Dixit brings pastel chikankari elegance to Manish Malhotra sari
MUMBAI: Actor Madhuri Dixit Nene brought traditional Indian craftsmanship into a contemporary evening look as she appeared in a pastel Manish Malhotra sari at an event celebrating the designer’s long association with the Mijwan Welfare Society.
The actor chose a multi-coloured pastel sari featuring blush pink, mint, lemon, powder blue and soft lilac panels arranged across an ivory base.
The sari featured intricate chikankari embroidery, including floral motifs and jaal patterns, along with sequins, mukaish work and a mirror-embellished border. The traditional embroidery was combined with a contemporary colour palette and evening detailing.
Dixit paired the sari with a white sequin-embroidered blouse with a scooped neckline and cap sleeves. She kept the accessories relatively limited, choosing chandelier earrings, a statement ring and stacked bangles.
A Bottega Veneta knot clutch completed the look.
The event marked 15 years of Manish Malhotra’s association with the Mijwan Welfare Society, which works with women artisans in Uttar Pradesh. The collaboration has helped bring traditional chikankari and related embroidery techniques into contemporary fashion.
Several Bollywood personalities attended the event, including Kajol, Urmila Matondkar and Shilpa Shetty.
Dixit’s choice of pastel colours and traditional embroidery offered a contemporary interpretation of the sari while keeping the focus on the craftsmanship. The combination of soft shades, mirror work and sequins also gave the traditional textile an eveningwear character.
Chikankari remains one of India’s recognised embroidery traditions, with its detailed handwork forming an important part of Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh’s craft heritage.
The fashion showcase once again brought attention to the connection between Indian craftsmanship and contemporary designer clothing, with traditional techniques being adapted for modern silhouettes and styling.
