25 years of Sabyasachi: Jan 25, 2025: TBT to Sridevi as a heartstopper show-stopper in 2012

Last night, Indian designer Sabyasachi celebrated 25 years of his brand that created a cultural, creative, seismic shift in the Indian fashion hemisphere like no designer before him. Intricate embroidery, a rich colour palette, artisanship, curation, exalted Indian aesthetics, early on he had a vision and he fulfilled it to the max. That fine line between maximalism and austerity, he's threaded the needle in creating a perfect brand for moneyed Indians and the NRI diaspora.  

He came into our orbit when he dressed Aishwarya Rai in Raavan back in 2010. Then when Sridevi attended the show of a relatively unknown designer in 2011... we knew a storm was brewing. The way he dressed the actress in Gauri Shinde's English Vinglish, was game-changer. Now of course every star and starlet dresses in a Sabya ensemble with varying degrees of success. Either you know how to drape, layer, style, accessorise, edit... or you arrive like an ostrich posing like a peacock...   

Last night (Jan 25, 2025) in Mumbai, as the parade of top models--led by muse Deepika Padukone and American super model Christy Turlington no less--walked down the long, wide catwalk, we were nostalgic for the time Sridevi walked for--and with Sabyasachi Mukherjee--back in 2012. 

A showstopper... more like heart-stopper... Sridevi stunned in her natural effortless elegance. If any woman ever knew how to drape a sari to perfection, 'twas and forever will be 'the great Sridevi'. Aided by MUA Mickey Contractor's able hand, he toned down the colours on her face to enhance her divine features... and truly she's never looked better. Which is saying something as Sridevi has famously given the world, several mega-fashion moments, be it on or off the catwalk, on film, in life... 

As it is on trend of the fashion tribe, the shots are being fired at Sabya, from critic and critique in equal dose of high praise and appraisal. Why did Deepika look like Rekha? Why were so many of his usual muses absent? Why were there so many random "influencers"... Where was Ash? Vidya? 

As the annual sales show, Sabysachi Mukherjee and his brand is immune to naysayers. A soft-spoken gentleman of extreme gifts, his classic Indian aesthetic may not always be on trend, but it will forever be in style. A classica Sabya sari will be pleated gracefully by the gracious till the end of time. 

Congratulations Sabyasachi - here's to another 50 years!