Museum as muse: When designer Sabyasachi teamed up with The Met

An interaction with The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Josh Romm about their collaboration with designer Sabyasachi MukherjeeJosh Romm, head of global licensing and partnerships, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, talks about their collaboration with designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee.Q. What is The Met’s partnership programme all about?A. 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.Q. What are some of the memorable partnerships you’ve had with artists and designers in the past? A. The Met has had the opportunity to collaborate with artists and designers on a global scale to bring The Met collection to people in new and unexpected ways across numerous categories. Recent collaborations in the apparel and accessory space include Camilla (Australia), Pacsun (USA) and Fila (China).Q. Why is it important for The Met to enter into such collaborations? The financial aspect apart, what cultural or creative value do these collaborations bring?A. The Met’s Licensing Program strives to highlight the beauty and breadth of the museum’s 5,000 years of art through thoughtful collaborations with artists and designers. It’s truly a pleasure to collaborate with innovative creatives at the forefront of their industries to imagine new ways for Met collection art to exist in culture. Every licensed Met product supports the museum’s collection, study, conservation and presentation of 5,000 years of art. We seek collaborators that embody a level of care for design and storytelling, which Sabyasachi [Mukherjee] has reflected in his collection.Q. Partnering with Sabyasachi must be an honour for you. As a designer, he brings the highest standards to his craft. Does this make him a demanding partner?A. Sabyasachi has been a thoughtful, curious and engaged partner who welcomed a dialogue with the museum’s curatorial departments and designers from the beginning. Through collaborative conversation and immersing himself amongst The Met’s 5,000 years of art, the jewellery collection naturally developed through Sabyasachi’s creative vision informed by open conversation with the museum.Q. What is Sabyasachi’s first Met collection all about?A. For its inaugural chapter of the project, Sabyasachi will unveil a High Jewellery collection inspired by the art of the Byzantine Empire, the eastern continuation of the Roman Empire centred in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) from the fourth through 15th centuries, and its vast sphere of creative influence. At the crossroads of continents, Byzantium stood as one of history’s great centres of commerce, culture and artistic exchange. Centuries of interaction absorbed and transformed influences from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Persia, to the civilisations of the Far East connected by the Silk Route via India, creating a visual language of extraordinary richness and complexity.Q. How does The Met go about deciding who to partner with?A. The Met aims to collaborate with brands that are passionate storytellers and eager to support the museum’s mission of sharing art, history and culture with the world in surprising ways that meet consumers where they are. We hope that the museum’s collaboration with Sabyasachi will spark curiosity and conversations highlighting art from the Museum’s holdings.Q. How bullish are you on your association with Sabyasachi?A. We are excited by Sabyasachi’s commitment to craftsmanship and legacy. We’re pleased to associate the museum with the Sabyasachi name, which is synonymous with beautiful design and impeccable quality.Subscribe to India Today Magazine- EndsPublished By: Shyam BalasubramanianPublished On: Sep 3, 2026 20:25 IST