Akshata Murty praises Desi sustainable fashion at G20 summit
The G20 Summit is almost over and foreign dignitaries from around the world have given us major political milestones and undeniably notable fashion moments. For an event where most of the world’s eyes were on India, all the dignitaries and their spouses would have had their fashion game on point. Not only did British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s wife Akshata Murty prove that she was up to the task, but she also set fashion goals for all the first ladies visiting India. Her wardrobe has been making headlines ever since she set foot on Indian soil for the G20 summit. The elegant pieces selected for the summit’s various occasions may have looked modest, but each was cleverly crafted to speak volumes about their Indian connection, traditional craftsmanship or slow, sustainable fashion.
At last night’s G20 dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at the Bharat Mandapam, Akshata chose a long-sleeved floral print midi dress made from silk georgette. Featuring an ankle-length tiered skirt, fitted at the waist, the vibrant outfit featured fresh natural colors of coral pink, sky blue and mint green. She accentuated her look with a pair of statement diamond dangling earrings, a pair of rings and a gold clutch. While the style of this multi-coloured crew neck outfit alone could hold the attention, the story behind its creation was probably the reason why Akshata chose it for the occasion. The one-piece is a Saloni label, a brand run by a London-based designer of Indian descent. Saloni facilitates Connecting For India, a community that “connects ancient Indian craft traditions with contemporary horizons through collaborative projects.”
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Earlier in the day, at a millet exhibition at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, the G20 Spouses Program organized by Kyoko, wife of Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, Akshata picked a lilac ‘Valli’ dress from the shelves from Manimekala, a made-to-order small British-Indian slow fashion brand. It featured a signature marble print on soft organic cotton, billowing puff sleeves and an A-line skirt with a floating tiered hem and pockets. According to half-Indian, half-British founder and designer Manimekala Fuller, “The Valli dress is a feminine take on a classic shirt style.” Manimekala shared a series of messages expressing her gratitude towards the First Lady. “I’m very proud that Akshata, as a woman of Indian descent, is using her platform to showcase women’s brands, both in India and across the diaspora, like Manimekala. It’s also great that she’s choosing smaller labels who create in a sustainable and ethical way, promoting a slower and more thoughtful approach to fashion.”
On the very first day of her arrival, she wore an orange co-ord set from Indian brand Draw, known as the “Wild Iris” set. Draw is a ready-to-wear independent fashion brand based in India “with a focus on conscious consumption, a pre-order retail model to regulate production and limited edition wearable art.”
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Also during the trip, Akshata Murty and the British Prime Minister visited the Akshardham Temple in New Delhi. They took part in a puja and other rituals and later interacted with the pujaris. Akshata kept her look simple in a magenta pink and green salwar suit. The gree Kurta featured floral motifs and came in a magenta-pink color dupatta and palazzo trousers.
Akshata’s very first outfit of the trip also created quite a stir. She wore a crisp white tucked-in button-down that was tucked into a long brown skirt with floral prints that added a pop of color to the otherwise understated outfit. She paired the ensemble with nude pumps.
After impressing with her Indo-Western attire over the weekend, the first lady bid adieu to the country in an all-ethnic soft pink cotton sari with golden cross-border embellishments and motifs. She wore minimal accessories with danglers and her hair was pulled back in a neat bun.
Stronger together. Stronger united 🇬🇧🇮🇳
Thank you @narendramodi for a historic G20 and the Indian people for such a warm welcome.
From global food security to international partnerships: it was a busy but successful summit. pic.twitter.com/Bz1az3i2Xr
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) September 10, 2023
Akshata Murty is well versed in fashion and has a degree from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising as well as a renowned fashion label to her name. She founded her brand Akshata Designs with the intention of showcasing Indian craftsmanship and textile traditions. It’s no wonder she has a tendency to choose just the right look to suit even the biggest occasions, like this one, and make a bigger point by supporting charities while she’s at it.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and published from a press release)
