Manish Malhotra Brings Assam to Cannes 2026 as Urmimala & Snigdha Baruah Turn the Red Carpet Into a Statement on Northeast Identity
Manish Malhotra Brings Assam to Cannes 2026 as Urmimala & Snigdha Baruah Turn the Red Carpet Into a Statement on Northeast Identity
Indian couturier Manish Malhotra brought Assamese heritage into the global fashion conversation at the Cannes Film Festival 2026 as mother-daughter duo Urmimala Baruah and Snigdha Baruah made a striking appearance in custom couture inspired by the cultural identity of Northeast India.
At a Cannes season where Indian designers and celebrities have increasingly leaned into heritage storytelling, the Baruahs’ appearance stood out for something larger than fashion, it triggered a conversation around how regional identities from Northeast India are represented (or underrepresented) in mainstream cultural spaces.
Designed by Manish Malhotra, the couture...