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The 51st Toronto International Film Festival wrapped up on September 20 after eleven days of premieres, and while the films made headlines, the red carpet told its own story. This year, South Asian fashion was front and centre at TIFF, from Kashmiri embroidery and Kanjivaram silk to Kerala gold and an Indian jewellery house on one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Here’s our wrap-up of the moments that mattered.
Mahira Khan’s maximalist TIFF debut
Mahira Khan made her first-ever TIFF appearance this year, attending the world premiere of Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, directed by Pakistani-origin filmmaker Bassam Tariq and starring Mahershala Ali.
She walked the red carpet in a deep burgundy Kashidakari-embroidered chiffon saree covered in intricate silver work, paired with a sleeveless burgundy blouse and a statement velvet shawl by Pakistani label Aafrinish by Niazi that reportedly took over 1,440 hours to create. Kashidakari, a traditional embroidery craft from the Kashmir Valley, carried mehraab and blooming lotus motifs across the saree. Heavy gold earrings with pearl detailing, a delicate gold hairpin and soft curls finished the look.
Khan’s festival wasn’t only about fashion. She also announced she is expecting her second child during her TIFF appearance, and moderated a conversation with Tariq on authentic storytelling and South Asian representation in international cinema.
Keerthy Suresh brings the Kanjivaram to Toronto
Keerthy Suresh attended TIFF for the world premiere of her Tamil film Dorothy, alongside director Karthik Subbaraj and producers Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jai. The film earned a standing ovation at its premiere.
For the carpet, she chose a Karan Torani ensemble styled by Ami Patel that reworked the Kanjivaram saree into a contemporary silhouette: a structured, textured cropped blouse in muted gold-brown, a voluminous maroon skirt with a broad metallic-gold hem and subtle green detailing, and a brocade-style dupatta with gold motifs draped across the shoulders. She completed it with layered gold necklaces from Kerala, one centred on a dark teardrop pendant, and traditional gold drop earrings.
Penélope Cruz puts Indian high jewellery on the carpet
One of TIFF 2026’s most talked-about looks wasn’t worn by a South Asian star, but it was built by South Asian craft. At the September 15 premiere of La Bola Negra, Penélope Cruz paired a white feathered Tamara Ralph couture gown with high jewellery by Zoya, the Tata Group-owned Indian luxury brand.
Cruz wore three pieces from Zoya’s upcoming collection, which draws on the colours and textures of India’s spices: the Rekindle Necklace, built around 19 carats of golden heliodor in a turmeric-inspired hue that took more than 1,200 hours to craft; the Wildflower Heart Ring, centring a 13-carat amethyst cut with Zoya’s proprietary Bloom Cut; and the Iconic Lattice Bangle, finished with diamonds and emerald-cut tanzanites. Cruz, a TIFF Special Tribute Award recipient this year, gave the unreleased collection an early global showcase, and put an Indian design house on the same carpet as French couture.
The bigger picture
From a Kashmiri craft on a Pakistani superstar, to a Kanjivaram reimagined for a Tamil film’s world premiere, to Indian high jewellery on an Oscar winner, TIFF 2026 made one thing clear: South Asian design is no longer a niche on the international red carpet. It’s setting the agenda. We’ll be watching what the next festival season brings.
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