Fashion Diplomacy: At Delhi G20, Akshata Murty colours global fashion in desi hues

"People will stare. Make it worth their while." -Harry Winston

The world's interest in Akshata Murty's — the Indian wife of Indian-origin British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, G20 wardrobe has been unique and rightly so. From the moment Murty descended the steps of her aircraft — with her husband, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in tow for the G20 summit in New Delhi — looking sharp in a crisp white button-down shirt tucked inside a billowing brown floral printed skirt, all eyes have been on UK's 'First Lady' who was recently named Britain's best dressed for 2023 by Tatler magazine.  

(UK 'First Lady' Akshata Murty and UK PM Rishi Sunak arrive in New Delhi for G20 Summit | Image: Instagram/@ukinindia)

A successful venture capitalist and former designer, daughter of Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy, and wife of the ‘man of the people' Rishi Sunak, Akshata Murty was criticised last year for wearing luxurious £570 JW Anderson slippers for the school run. The UK media also came down heavily on her after she was spotted in £570 Gucci sneakers and a £1,000 leather skirt. Murty had developed a reputation for her 'quiet luxury'. But did she want to be known for her stealth wealth wardrobe?

A public figure under the highest scrutiny of UK's tabloid media, Murty knew any step out of place would mean newspapers and the internet would be flooded with headlines talking about her and her husband’s estimated $844 million wealth.

Soon, the 43-year-old made a careful shift -- from decadent dressing to modest labels, mostly from British brands.

(Akshata Murty makes a case for sustainable fashion in a lilac 'Valli' dress from Manimekala - a British-Indian slow fashion brand | Image: Instagram/ukinindia)

In line with her newly found careful approach to power dressing, in May 2023, Murty opted for a £95 cashmere fuschia pink jumper from London-based Chinti & Parker and paired it with bright green trousers worth £165 from British clothing brand ME+EM, as she alighted her aircraft in Japan for the G7 summit in Hiroshima. 

More recently, Murty's strategic move to give a nod to her Indian roots during her visit to India for the G20 Summit and the decision to give the spotlight to Indian labels such as Dawn, FabIndia and Raw Mango, was more than simply a wardrobe choice, it was fashion diplomacy.

(Akshata Murty, dressed in a FabIndia outfit, visits the Akshardham temple in New Delhi, with her husband, UK PM Rishi Sunak | Image: Instagram/@ukinindia)

She garnered praise for her subtle modern glamour as she opted for fusion wear for her first visit to India as Britain's 'First Lady'. Giving a nod to both India and Britain, Murty opted for a white button-down, by British brand With Nothing Underneath and teamed it with an ethnic skirt, replete with vibrant floral motifs. 

Notably, this wasn't the first time the 'First Lady' was wearing the billowing brown ethnic skirt. She had previously donned it at the Padma Awards 2023 ceremony where her mother, Sudha Murthy, was honoured. 

Aware of the optics surrounding her fashion choices and the paparazzi, Murty, during her recent visit to India, used the opportunity to showcase a pragmatic (and sustainable) approach to dressing. 

(For her visit to the British Council in New Delhi, Akshata Murty opted for a striped co-ord set by Dawn, an independent India-based fashion brand | Image: Instagram/@akshatamurty_official)

During her 2-day stay in India, Murty sported six hand-picked outfits. A white button-down (by sustainable brand With Nothing Underneath) teamed with a brown floral skirt. A striped co-ord set by an independent India-based fashion brand Dawn, a Lilac 'Valli' dress from Manimekala - a made-to-order British-Indian slow fashion brand, an Indo-fusion, multi-coloured silk dress designed by Saloni Lodha - a London-based designer of Indian origin, a mehendi green kurta with magenta pink dupatta and palazzos from Fabindia and lastly, a pale pink silk saree that featured aari embroidery and peacock motifs sourced from sustainable traditional wear brand Raw Mango.

(Akshata Murty dons a soft pink Raw Mango saree as she embarks on her journey back to the UK with her husband, UK PM Rishi Sunak | Image: Instagram/@akshatamurty_official)

Murty's impeccable sense of style and relatable yet stylish sartorial choices during the G20 summit held in India between September 9-10, emanated a quiet, fuss-free no-nonsense attitude. Additionally, her penchant for fashion left onlookers and the fashion police a little more than just impressed as the 'First Lady' made a strong case for tradition, comfort, and style, all in one go. 

(Akshata Murty snapped at the G20 Gala dinner dressed in an Indo-fusion piece from Saloni label - a London-based designer of Indian origin. She accompanied her husband, UK PM Rishi Sunak | Image: Instagram/@akshatamurty_official)

A billionaire heiress, Murty’s G20 wardrobe does not come at high street prices. But, her remarkable selections at the Summit do showcase her versatility.

And while the idea of using fashion as a diplomatic tool and carefully loading the arsenal with high/low brands is a strategy many spouses of political leaders have adopted in the past — former US First Lady Michelle Obama's wardrobe consisted of dresses from J. Crew, a ready-to-wear retailer to designer evening gowns by luxury brands such as Oscar de la Renta and former UK PM David Cameron's wife Samantha Cameron would often mix high-street items from Zara, M&S and Whistles with designer pieces from Emilia Wickstead and Erdem — it's Murty's ability to effortlessly transition between different styles and cultures that is truly reflective of her commitment to making a statement at a global stage as the world stares and the media dissects each element of every outfit.