By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Indian luxury house Sabyasachi have announced a multiyear partnership, drawing on the museum’s collection to inspire luxury products made in India.
Under the agreement, Sabyasachi will use objects and histories from the Met’s collection, which spans more than 5,000 years of art and culture, as inspiration for products reinterpreted through Indian craftsmanship.
The first project under the collaboration will be a jewelry collection inspired by the art of the Byzantine Empire, the eastern continuation of the Roman Empire that was centered in Constantinople, now Istanbul, from the fourth through 15th centuries. The collection will draw from objects, motifs, and techniques found in the Met’s Greek and Roman, Medieval, and Islamic art departments, including imperial medallions, architectural adornments, ancient statuary, and religious iconography.
The Met’s collection of Late Antique and Byzantine art is among the most comprehensive in the world, encompassing sculpture, mosaics, icons, metalwork, jewelry, and other objects produced across the eastern Mediterranean, North Africa and West Asia.
Stephen Mannello, head of retail and global licensing at the Met, said the collaboration allows the museum to present its collection through a new perspective.
“We are passionate about uplifting stories of creativity and craftsmanship housed in The Met collection through collaborations with modern day makers,” Mannello said. “Engaging with Sabyasachi and his team allows us to view works from antiquity through a new lens, shining a spotlight on stories of the past through his creative viewpoint.
“We look forward to sparking conversations that inspire fans of The Met and Sabyasachi to immerse themselves in the past, present, and future of art and design.”
Sabyasachi Mukherjee, founder and creative director of Sabyasachi, said the Byzantine Empire’s history of cultural exchange, including with India, informed his interest in the project.
“This collaboration is about engaging with one of the world’s great collections of art and the opportunity to reinterpret centuries of creativity through contemporary design,” Mukherjee said. “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 explained. “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.”
LicenseWorks India served as the licensing agency representing the Met and helped develop the relationship with Sabyasachi.
“This collaboration reflects a shared appreciation for artistry, craftsmanship, and cultural storytelling,” said Rishabh Singla, managing partner at LicenseWorks. “We are proud to have supported the coming together of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Sabyasachi on this landmark project.”
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Every piece in the collection will be conceived, developed and handcrafted in India by Sabyasachi’s network of artisans, the partners said. Future collections under the collaboration will continue to draw on the Met’s holdings to develop jewelry, accessories, and clothing.
The Byzantine-inspired collection is scheduled to debut at a runway presentation during New York Fashion Week on September 15, 2026. Pieces will be sold at the Sabyasachi flagship store at 160 Christopher St. in New York’s West Village, other Sabyasachi stores worldwide, and select specialty retailers.
Sabyasachi was founded in 1999 by Mukherjee and describes itself as India’s leading luxury brand, spanning fashion, high jewelry, fine jewelry, accessories, beauty, and lifestyle.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded in 1870. The museum operates two locations in New York City, the Met Fifth Avenue and the Met Cloisters, and says proceeds from its licensing program support the collection, study, conservation, and presentation of its holdings.