09 July,2026 10:20 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Anna Wintour, Isha Ambani, Fan Bingbing, Manish Malhotra (Pics/Instagram)
Paris Haute Couture Week is regarded as the pinnacle of luxury fashion, bringing together the biggest designers, celebrities, and industry insiders under one roof. This year, Indian designer Manish Malhotra made history with his couture debut. To cheer him on, his friend and business tycoon Isha Ambani attended his show, where she was seen having a hearty conversation with Anna Wintour and Fan Bingbing.
The exhibition marked a historic moment for Manish Malhotra, who became one of the first Indian designers to present an official couture collection at the prestigious fashion week. Several guests graced the front row to witness his collection. However, what caught our attention was that Vogue global editorial director Anna Wintour sat with Isha Ambani and Fan Bingbing at Manish Malhotra's Autumn/Winter 2026 Haute Couture presentation during Paris Haute Couture Week on Wednesday (July 8) in Paris, France. The two were seen having conversations and smiling while sitting side by side.
For the occasion, Isha wore a bespoke gold couture gown by Manish Malhotra. The custom design featured intricate hand embroidery using vintage salli and taban sequins, along with hand-set crystals. Anna Wintour wore an elegant long-sleeved midi dress in rich mustard gold, adorned with bold floral patterns. She elevated her ensemble by layering a chunky, ornate jewel necklace.
This came just days after Isha Ambani was joined by rapper Cardi B when Indian fashion designer Rahul Mishra debuted his 'Devi' collection at Haute Couture Week in Paris on Monday.
The designer presented his first haute couture collection, Maa, a heartfelt tribute to motherhood that fused love, beauty, and the rich legacy of Indian craftsmanship. The ode comes months after Manish's mother, Garima Malhotra, died at 96 in March 2026.
Manish's friend and producer Karan also supported him at the couture week. Paying an ode to Maa theme, Karan wore an all black outfit. He paired a shirt and pant with crystal-studded cape-styled jacket.
Before this, Manish was in the news for his appearance at the Met Gala 2026. He was among the few Indians to walk the red carpet with Isha Ambani and Karan Johar. For the outing, Manish paid tribute to Mumbai and the craftsmen of India through his meaningful ensemble. He donned a Mumbai-inspired couture look consisting of a black bandhgala layered with a 960-hour cape crafted by 50 artisans.
While he has been a prolific designer, Manish also ventured into cinema as a producer by backing Gustaakh Ishq, which starred Fatima Sana Shaikh and Vijay Varma. He is next gearing up for Bun Tikki with Zeenat Aman.
