New Delhi: A saree-inspired outfit, designed by 23-year-old fashion influencer Nancy Tyagi, became the highlight of Grammy-winning singer Tyla’s India visit. The glittering drape on the South African musician, whose father is of Indian heritage, also renewed the buzz around Tyagi, who first made a splash at Cannes 2024 with her handmade, candyfloss-like pink gown.
“This hand-made saree took me 24 hours, from design to stitching to final detailing. It was intense, but when you’re passionate, the process feels incredibly fulfilling,” Tyagi told ThePrint.
The influencer shared that she had purchased plain white fabric from a Delhi market and had it dyed mint green. All the delicate embroidery and beadwork were done by her in-house. For Tyagi, the goal was to create a clean, elegant, modern silhouette that still reflected the essence of Indian heritage.
“The inspiration was simple to celebrate Indian culture while blending it seamlessly with Tyla’s personal style. I wanted her to feel like the saree was an extension of her own vibe, not just a traditional costume,” Tyagi added.
Tyla, known for hit tracks like Chanel, Water, and Shake Ah, was in Mumbai for her concert, which took place on December 7. Videos from her concert flooded Instagram but what created the most chatter was the carousel of pictures she posted later.
In the pictures, the singer wore a mint-green, see-through ensemble with a pre-draped pallu, low-rise waist, fitted skirt, sleek pleats, a floor-grazing train, and a thigh-high slit.
“Sharing the pictures on Instagram, Tyla wrote, “SAY YOU LUV ME PUT ME IN @nancytyagi___ Went to India for the first time, twin stayed up all night designing and hand making this Saree inspired look 4 me… She is insane ilyyyy. Why this song banginggggg,” Tyla captioned the post.
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‘This feels so right’
The collaboration between Tyla and Tyagi unfolded “organically.” The influencer reached out to the South African singer with the idea of welcoming her to India through a culturally rooted outfit.
“She replied with such genuine warmth that I instantly knew this collaboration was meant to happen. We aligned on the saree right away. That same night, I sat down at my sewing machine and began creating the outfit using only her measurements,” recalled Tyagi. “When Tyla arrived in India, the saree draped over her so effortlessly, it felt like everything had come together exactly the way it was supposed to.”
Tyagi’s saree and gown videos have been a hot topic on the internet for the last few years, with millions watching her create outfits from scratch.
And, this isn’t the first time Tyagi has created an outfit for a celebrity. In September 2024, she made a white gown for Ananya Panday during promotions for Call Me Bae. She has also made it to the red carpet herself not only at Cannes 2024 but again this year, when she wore a garden-inspired turquoise outfit that reportedly took 700 hours to make.
But, designing the outfit for Tyla was “special” for Tyagi. She describes the singer as someone who is “incredibly sweet, grounded, and trusting” and that working with her was smooth and natural.
Tyla’s reaction made all the effort worth it for the influencer.
“The moment she saw the saree, her face lit up. She kept touching the fabric and saying how beautiful and special it felt. When she finally draped it on, she looked into the mirror and said, ‘This feels so right’,” Tyagi said.
The influencer added that she was overwhelmed by the fact that Tyla appreciated every little detail, from the pleats and the silhouette to the finishing.
“She could feel the love and intention behind it. For me, seeing her feel comfortable, confident, and connected to something so deeply Indian… that was the best reaction I could’ve asked for,” Tyagi added.
One detail in particular had the internet oohing and aahing over Tyla’s desi girl look. The bindi. Tyagi said it was a last-minute addition.
“Once the saree was draped, I suggested adding a small bindi to finish the look. Tyla was immediately open to it. It was a simple detail, but it added a soft, intimate touch and tied the styling back to the cultural sentiment behind the outfit in a very natural way,” she said.
(Edited by Asavari Singh)