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Sabyasachi is a name frequently heard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Indian fashion and jewelry designer (full name: Sabyasachi Mukherjee) has dressed superstars including Alia Bhatt, Shah Rukh Khan, and Natasha Poonawalla at the Met Gala (while the likes of Parker Posey, Rihanna, and Keri Russell have worn his jewelry to other events). Now, his work will be there beyond just the first Monday in May: the designer and the museum have announced a multi-year collaboration across a variety of as-yet-to-be-revealed categories, using the museum’s vast and broad art and architectural holdings as inspiration.
But first: a line of high jewelry inspired by the Byzantine Empire, which spanned roughly from 500 AD to 1500 AD and was centered around modern-day Turkey. Byzantine art is among the Met’s largest and finest collections, making it a fertile ground for the designer, whose pieces will be shown for the first time during New York Fashion Week on September 15. The jewelry, priced between $2,500 and $100,000, will then be available for purchase at New York’s Sabyasachi flagship on Christopher Street, which opened in 2022.
Courtesy of Sabyasachi
A necklace from the collection.
Courtesy of Sabyasachi
A pair of earrings from the collection.
The first images of the collection were released today, showcasing a sampling of the more than 100 items made. Gold, in both 18 and 22 karats, is a motif throughout, closely following the Byzantine love of gold. Other gems include tourmaline, spinel, amethyst, and lapis lazuli.
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A Byzantine mosaic at the Met. Some of the tiles gleam gold in person.
“The Byzantine world was not defined by a single geography. It was shaped by the movement of people, ideas, and craftsmanship across continents including India. What fascinates me is not only Byzantium itself, but the civilizations that informed it and the extraordinary artistic dialogue that emerged from interactions through trade,” Mukherjee said in a statement. “I find similarities to my home, Calcutta, itself a commercial hub influenced by trade and exchange. Through this collaboration, we are able to transform historic inspiration into modern interpretations that feel relevant, beautiful, and desirable today.”
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Sabyasachi Mukherjee on the carpet of the 2025 Met Gala.
Of particular note is the emphasis on large pendants, asymmetrical shapes, and figurative motifs. Perhaps an early trend for fall jewelry is afoot, but in any case, it’s a good reason to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s fabulous Byzantine Collection.
Dorothy Scarborough (she/her) is the assistant to the Editor in Chief of Town & Country and Elle Decor.