All eyes were on Ms. Nandini Gupta, the 21-year-old Miss World 2025 contestant, as she walked across the stage in an exquisitely hand-woven Ghaghra with a saree draped as a dupatta, captivating fashionistas and telling a tale of India’s rich heritage at the glittering inaugural ceremony of the 72nd Miss World Pageant in Hyderabad. Who is the author of this masterpiece? The award-winning textile revivalist Gaurang Shah, who is known for skillfully bringing back ancient skills in a contemporary manner.

Shah created a jugalbandi of Jamdani weaves for this international event, which was seen by millions of people worldwide. These weaves harmoniously combined the traditions of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. The garment is adorned with gold zari Jamdani leharia designs and is painstakingly made from hand-charkha-spun khadi yarn. The border and palla, however, are the real highlights, where the age-old “Bangdi Mor” design—four peacocks gracefully dancing within a bangle—commands praise.

“Eight artisans dedicated themselves to perfecting every detail during the nearly three years it took to weave this textile,” Shah says. “I knew right away when Nandini’s team reached out to me for Miss World that this fabric would perfectly complement her poise and capture the spirit of India’s legacy.”

The glittering gold details are beautifully framed by the natural ivory base, creating an outfit that is both classic and modern. With the peacock standing for elegance and beauty, the Bangdi Mor motif, which has its roots in Maharashtra’s creative traditions, offers both visual beauty and deep cultural significance.

Fans of textile arts may have a lot more to look forward to as Shah is said to be creating more outfits for Nandini throughout the competition. “My mission has always been to celebrate India’s handlooms, its jamdani weave mastery, as well as the exquisite craftmanship of our weavers on global platforms — and Miss World offered me the perfect stage for that dialogue to continue,” Shah states eloquently.