Sudha Reddy, the star-spangled Hyderabadi at the 2021 Met Gala

Having represented India at the 2021 Met Gala, Sudha Reddy talks about her fashion collaboration with Falguni Shane Peacock and the need for more South Asian representation at global fashion events

As Sudha Reddy’s car pulled into Fifth Avenue outside the Met Museum for the 2021 Met Gala on September 13, the Hyderabad-based philanthropist and socialite found herself quietly chanting, “It’s showtime!” in excitement. As she steps onto the seemingly-endless red carpet that ascends to the entrance of the reputed institute, she is engulfed by the flashing lights of press photographers and a flurry of questions asking who she is wearing tonight.

Owing to the pandemic and no 2020 edition, this year’s Met Gala – formerly known as Costume Institute Gala or the Costume Institute Benefit – certainly felt different for everyone involved; from organiser Anna Wintour and the designers, to the high-profile attendees and even the spectators watching the red carpet showcase at home.