Mahira Khan wore a hand-embroidered Kashidakari saree by Aafrinish By Niazi for her appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2026.
Set on rich wine chiffon, the saree brings together delicate hand embroidery, soft ivory and cream tones, and subtle detailing in Cutdana and silver Zari. Paired with a contrasting teal green shawl from the same family of Kashidakari, the look brings traditional South Asian craftsmanship to an international stage.
The Saree Mahira Khan Wore at TIFF
The saree is crafted on a rich wine chiffon base and brought to life with hand-embroidered Kashidakari, worked in a delicate single-thread technique.
Florals and paisleys flow across the drape in shades of white, ivory and cream, with Cutdana and silver Zari adding a subtle shimmer to the embroidery.
But the real story is in the time and hands behind it.
1,440 hours. Two artisans.
Every stitch was worked by hand.
A true labour of love.
The Lotus Motif
Woven quietly amongst the florals and paisleys are delicate lotus flowers.
The lotus has long been associated with fertility, renewal and new life, making the motif especially meaningful for this moment in Mahira’s life.
It isn't the first thing you notice about the saree. Instead, it reveals itself gradually — a small detail within the embroidery that gives the piece another layer of meaning.
The Teal Kashidakari Shawl
Mahira’s saree was paired with a contrasting teal green shawl, created in the same family of Kashidakari embroidery.
The shawl carries the same pattern and embroidery language, with Cutdana and silver Zari detailing continuing across the piece.
The deep wine of the saree against the teal creates an unexpected contrast, while the shared craftsmanship keeps the entire look connected.
Mahira Khan at TIFF 2026
For an appearance as significant as TIFF, the intention was to create something that felt timeless, personal and entirely her own.
The saree carries the richness of South Asian craft without feeling weighed down by it. The wine chiffon keeps the silhouette fluid, while the fine Kashidakari allows the detail to emerge with movement.
And then there is the lotus — quietly woven into the saree, carrying its own symbolism of fertility, renewal and new life.
Together, the details make the saree feel particularly right for Mahira and for this moment.
Aafrinish By Niazi and the Saree
For Aafrinish By Niazi, the saree has always been more than a garment.
In 1992, our parents met at a mazaar, fell in love, and together began what would become Aafrinish By Niazi. Our mother’s lifelong love for the saree has made it an especially meaningful part of our story.
That relationship with the saree continues through the work of the artisans who bring each piece to life — preserving the patience, skill and beauty of hand craftsmanship while allowing every saree to become something new on the woman who wears it.
Seeing Mahira Khan wear this saree at TIFF feels like a continuation of that story.
A timeless South Asian craft, carried onto an international stage and made entirely her own.
For us, love has always been at the heart of what we do.
The love of a mother.
The love of a craft passed from hand to hand.
And the love that began it all.
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