For Sabyasachi’s 25th-anniversary show, the invitation had one directive: strictly black. The fashion world is notorious for classism, where status often overshadows style. But Sabyasachi Mukherjee believes a dress code can level the playing field. “When you bring such a diverse crowd together, a dress code creates a sense of equality. It eliminates hierarchies and makes everyone feel equal,” he explains.

Among the 700 well-heeled guests, one woman stood out—not for the usual reasons, but for the story behind her outfit. “It belonged to my father-in-law’s eldest sister, Mrunalini Devi, the Maharani of Dhar. It’s her mother-in-law’s saree,” says Radhikaraje Gaekwad, of the erstwhile royal family of Baroda, married to Maharaja Samarjitsinh Gaekwad. She was referring to her century-old cotton Paithani saree.