Spoiler Alert:

For her Atlanta show, Beyoncé wore a striking neon green sari, designed by Indian fashion designer Gaurav Gupta. The flowing, sculpted garment is a traditional South Asian outfit that took hundreds of hours to perfect, becoming one of the standout pieces of her Renaissance world tour. Gaurav, known for his unique and innovative designs, crafted three looks for the tour. In addition to the neon green sari, he also created a gem-encrusted gown and a crystal bodysuit for Beyoncé.

Both the sari and the gown were pulled from Gaurav’s runway shows at Paris Fashion Week and required immense dedication and precision to create. The sari alone took more than 200 hours to design, while the gown involved more than 700 hours of hand-stitching 50,000 individual crystals, sequins, and beads. The crystal bodysuit, made exclusively for Beyoncé, took over 500 hours to complete, showcasing Gaurav’s meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship.

While Indian culture and saris were central to his designs for Beyoncé, Gaurav initially didn’t incorporate saris into his collections after returning to Delhi from fashion school. Over time, however, he reconnected with this ancient garment, recognizing it not only as a significant part of Indian culture but as a global icon in fashion. He believes that the sari is one of the most ancient and timeless costumes in the world, offering a unique perspective that transcends cultural boundaries.

At the heart of Gaurav’s designs lies the ancient Hindu concept of the golden womb, or Hiraṇyagarbha, symbolizing the origin of the universe. This philosophical idea, combined with abstract influences like patterns found in clouds, stars, and comets, fuels his creative process. Gaurav’s fusion of traditional Indian culture with futuristic and abstract designs has become the signature of his brand, which he describes as “future primitive” – an aesthetic that blends the ancient with the modern.

While Beyoncé may be his most famous client, Gaurav has dressed other A-listers, including Megan Thee Stallion at the Oscars, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at Cannes, and Cardi B for her music video “No Love.” Most recently, he designed a stunning gown for Cardi B for the Grammys, which was widely regarded as one of the night’s best looks. Despite the high-pressure nature of these projects, Gaurav thrives on the excitement of creating under tight deadlines, saying he lives for the challenge.

Gaurav doesn’t see the celebrities he dresses as mere stars; instead, he views them as like-minded individuals on a similar journey. He believes his mission is to elevate Indian culture on the global stage. This year, he made history as the second Indian designer ever to be invited to showcase his collection at Paris Fashion Week, with his show “Shunya,” named after the Sanskrit word for zero – a concept deeply rooted in Indian philosophy.

Looking ahead, Gaurav has big plans, naming stars like Harry Styles, Adele, Zendaya, Lady Gaga, and Deepika Padukone as some of the celebrities he hopes to collaborate with in the future. Despite his success, he remains grounded, saying he doesn’t yet fully grasp how fortunate he is, as he’s still immersed in the journey of his career.