LicenseWorks Facilitates Landmark Collaboration Between The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Sabyasachi

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Inaugural High Jewelry Collection Draws Inspiration from Art of the Byzantine Empire

The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Sabyasachi announced today a landmark multi-year collaboration that brings together one of the world's most celebrated cultural institutions and India's leading luxury house in a shared commitment to creativity, craftsmanship, and the enduring power of historic works of art to inspire contemporary design. The collaboration establishes a long-term framework through which Sabyasachi will draw inspiration from The Met’s collection of more than 5,000 years of art and culture from around the world. Through the lens of Indian craftsmanship, select objects and their histories will be reinterpreted as contemporary luxury products, creating a dialogue between historic works from around the globe and the enduring tradition of craft in India.

For its inaugural chapter of the project, Sabyasachi will unveil a High Jewelry collection inspired by the art of the Byzantine Empire, the eastern continuation of the Roman Empire centered in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) from the fourth through fifteenth centuries, and its vast sphere of creative influence. At the crossroads of continents, Byzantium stood as one of history's great centers of commerce, culture, and artistic exchange. Centuries of interaction absorbed and transformed influences from Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Persia, to the civilizations of the Far East connected by the Silk Route via India, creating a visual language of extraordinary richness and complexity.

The Met's collection of Late Antique and Byzantine art is among the most comprehensive in the world, encompassing monumental sculpture, mosaics, icons, metalwork, jewelry, and luxury objects produced across the eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, and West Asia. Drawing from objects, motifs, and techniques represented in The Met departments of Greek & Roman, Medieval, and Islamic art, Sabyasachi reimagines the grandeur of Byzantine art through the language of contemporary jewelry. Imperial medallions, architectural adornments, ancient statuary and stonework, religious iconography and other inspiring objects of antiquity become departure points for a collection that celebrates artistic ambition and cultural convergence.

“We are passionate about uplifting stories of creativity and craftsmanship housed in The Met collection through collaborations with modern day makers,” says Stephen Mannello, Head of Retail and Global Licensing at The Met. “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.”

"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," said Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Founder and Creative Director of Sabyasachi. "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. 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 Metropolitan Museum of Art and helped to develop the relationship with Sabyasachi. "This collaboration reflects a shared appreciation for artistry, craftsmanship, and cultural storytelling. We are proud to have supported the coming together of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Sabyasachi on this landmark project," said Rishabh Singla, Managing Partner, LicenseWorks.

For Sabyasachi, the collaboration signals a new, deeper engagement with historic works of art – a longstanding reference for artist and designers for centuries – recognizing India's longstanding contribution to the history of art, craftsmanship, and luxury, not as an emerging participant, but as one of its enduring authors.

Every piece in the collection will be conceived, developed, and handcrafted in India by Sabyasachi's network of master artisans. The result is a dialogue between revered works in The Met collection and one of the world's richest living craft traditions.

Forthcoming collections developed under the collaboration will continue to draw inspiration from the breadth and depth of The Met collection, creating new opportunities to explore historical narratives through jewelry, accessories, and clothing.

By transforming historical inspiration into contemporary designs, the collaboration invites a new generation of collectors to engage with the artistic legacy of humankind that continues to shape the world today.

The collection will debut at a runway presentation during New York Fashion Week on September 15^th, 2026. Pieces will be available at the Sabyasachi flagship located at 160 Christopher Street in New York City’s West Village, other global Sabyasachi stores, and select specialty retailers worldwide.

About Sabyasachi

Founded in 1999 by Sabyasachi Mukherjee, the House of Sabyasachi is India's foremost luxury brand, encompassing fashion, high jewelry, fine jewelry, accessories, beauty, and lifestyle. Renowned for its commitment to craftsmanship, heritage, and storytelling, the brand has played a pioneering role in establishing a distinctly Indian vision of global luxury.

For more than twenty-five years, Sabyasachi has championed Indian craftsmanship as a form of cultural preservation and economic empowerment. Placing Indian artisanship at the center of this collaboration continues the brand's broader mission of establishing India’s voice in the future of luxury.

About The Met Licensing Program

The Met Licensing Program invites emerging and leading brands to share the beauty of the Museum's unparalleled holdings with art lovers around the world. These collaborations create exceptional products that take inspiration from artworks and techniques seen in The Met collection. The proceeds from every licensed Met product support the Museum’s collection, study, conservation, and presentation of 5,000 years of art.

About The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded in 1870 by a group of American citizens—businessmen and financiers as well as leading artists and thinkers of the day—who wanted to create a museum to bring art and art education to the American people. Today, The Met displays tens of thousands of objects covering 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in two iconic sites in New York City—The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Millions of people also take part in The Met experience online. Since its founding, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. Every day, art comes alive in the Museum's galleries and through its exhibitions and events, revealing both new ideas and unexpected connections across time and across cultures.