Regarded as one of the finest names in Indian couture, designer Jayanti Reddy’s eponymous label has, since its inception, won over fashion connoisseurs with its elegant, understated approach to Indian occasion wear, combining naturally dyed, handwoven textiles with intricate hand embroidery and refined craftsmanship.
Rooted in India's rich textile traditions yet designed with the modern-day woman in mind, the label has carved out a distinctive design language that strikes a delicate balance between heritage, sophistication and modernity. Each design from this fashion house reflects a deep commitment to artisanal excellence, creating timeless pieces that celebrate the enduring beauty of Indian craftsmanship. The recent collection from Jayanti Reddy—The Gilded Era—carries that legacy forward.
Unveiled at Hyundai India Couture Week 2026, in association with Nexxus New York, The Gilded Era leans into a quieter, more nuanced expression of luxury, where luminosity is approached with restraint, and opulence is articulated through refinement rather than excess. The Jayanti Reddy Label describes the collection as, “Where light lingers across every surface, and intricate embellishments reveal depth. Where texture, light, and movement come together to reveal new dimensions. Every surface is composed to shift with light, uncovering texture, depth and meticulous handwork”
Further talking about the collection, Jayanti explains, “The collection is shaped by the interplay of light and shadow, intricate handwork and sculptural form, marking a defining new chapter for the house.”
For Jayanti, who has constantly drawn inspiration from everything around her, The Gilded Era edit is essentially about turning light into a design element. And the talented designer brought her vision to life by using sequins, metallic threads and intricate embellishments layered with remarkable precision, creating garments that reveal dimension, movement and texture as they catch the light. A new addition to her signature palette, ‘black’ brings a sharper contrast into the eclectic mix, tempering the radiance with depth and giving the house's romantic aesthetic a more contemporary edge.
What stands out is that despite the use of all the embellishments and shimmer, The Gilded Era never tips into excess; rather, it enthralls with its luxury and delicate charm. Speaking of the delicate craftsmanship, Jayanti mentions, “We refined our embroideries, introduced stronger contrasts through black, and focused on silhouettes that allowed the craftsmanship to truly shine.”
Comprising sixty looks in total, fifty womenswear and ten menswear, The Gilded Era presents a complete couture narrative rooted in elegance, precision, and modernity. At the heart of the collection are 11–12 hero pieces, each conceived to showcase exceptional craftsmanship and intricate surface detailing, without losing the sense of fluidity. Amongst the hero pieces are the gorgeous golden Sharara with an off-shoulder peplum blouse, embellished with sequins, zari work, embroidery and beads, worn on the runway by Aditi Rao Hydari.
The rest of the collection carries that same intent through its craftsmanship. There are embroidered corsets and flowing kaftans; jackets defined by dense metallic thread work; heavily worked lehengas layered with crystals, sequins, beads and metallic embroidery. One standout pairing is an embroidered lehenga with a fitted corset—worked in antique silver zari, sequins, florals, paisley-inspired curves and geometric motifs, styled alongside a muted silver-and-blush bandhgala sherwani with light blush trousers. Heavily embroidered mermaid lehengas and intricately worked sherwanis round out much of the line. Structured corsets, elongated tunics, fluid kaftans and dramatic trail skirts, all signature Jayanti Reddy silhouettes, return here reimagined with a lighter hand, building a wardrobe that holds couture artistry and everyday wearability in balance. “The result is couture defined not by ornamentation alone, but by precision, proportion and an instinctive sense of elegance,” explains the brand.
Rooted in the label's enduring reverence for Indian craftsmanship, The Gilded Era reimagines heritage through a contemporary lens. Rather than treating craft as nostalgia or chasing novelty for its own sake, Jayanti Reddy evolves artisanal technique for the modern woman, bringing sculptural construction, fluid tailoring and intricate handwork together in pieces that feel timeless without feeling dated. Traditional zardozi embroidery and thread work are refined here to feel lighter and more architecturally precise, with silhouettes deliberately pared back so the handwork can take center stage. “Every element has been thoughtfully considered, not only for its beauty, but for the way it interacts with the body, revealing texture, movement and light with every step.”
For Jayanti, the collection is ultimately an exploration of luxury that whispers rather than shouts. She says, “The Gilded Era is my exploration of a quieter kind of luxury. I wanted to create pieces where craftsmanship speaks softly but leaves a lasting impression, where every embellishment, every texture and every silhouette feels intentional. The collection is inspired by the way light transforms a garment, revealing different dimensions with movement. It is rooted in traditional Indian craftsmanship but interpreted with a sense of modernity and restraint that reflects how I see couture evolving today.”
A favorite on the red carpet and among Bollywood celebrities, designs from the Jayanti Reddy label are often embraced by the likes of Malaika Arora, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Genelia Deshmukh, Tamannaah Bhatia and Tara Sutaria. The label’s appeal lies truly in its ability to be inspired by elements of newness, surprises and re-imagining Indian-ness to give rise to looks that are entirely modern.
With The Gilded Era, Jayanti Reddy adds another chapter to that story. It is couture that celebrates the richness of Indian craft without being weighed down by it; glamor that finds strength in restraint; and a collection where light does more than illuminate the garment.
The Gilded Era is available at Jayanti Reddy’s flagship stores in Hyderabad, New Delhi and Mumbai, and online at jayantireddy.com
