Venus Williams and EJAE in Swarovski Couture
Swarovski illuminated the 2026 Met Gala with exclusive crystal designs worn by co-host Venus Williams and artist EJAE on 5th May in New York. The event celebrated the Costume Institute’s Spring exhibition, ‘Costume Art’.
Global Creative Director Giovanna Engelbert created three unique couture looks for the gala, showcasing Swarovski’s commitment to crystal as an art form. Her designs explored the interplay between tradition and modernity, using crystals to express individual identity. The designs highlighted the role of crystals in connecting old world traditions with modern innovation.
Engelbert stated, “This year I was inspired by the concept of crystals as art – and how their brilliance can serve as a thread between old world traditions and modern couture innovation.”
Venus Williams wore a gown encrusted with 52,500 crystals, crafted to reflect her authority and achievements. Her ensemble featured a silver necklace with 3,800 hand-set stones, inspired by Robert Pruitt’s ‘Venus Williams, Double Portrait’. This necklace took over 700 hours to create and drew inspiration from her roots in Compton.
For the tennis icon, entrepreneur, and Met Gala co-host Venus Williams, the starting point for her look was the famed ‘Venus Williams, Double Portrait’ displayed at the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian. The necklace highlighted portraits of her parents and sports achievements.
EJAE’s Crystal Ensemble
EJAE’s look was a tribute to neoclassical art, featuring a Crystal Fine Mesh skirt with 630,000 Swarovski Crystals. Her corset combined jewellery craftsmanship with 60,000 crystals and 1,000 Crystal Pearls, reflecting her cultural identity. Engelbert aimed to create a crystal sculpture that merges classical beauty with EJAE’s cultural essence.
Swarovski also adorned Cher with jewellery to enhance her Met Gala look. Designers Robert Wun and Di Petsa integrated Swarovski crystals into their couture pieces for other attendees, emphasizing the versatility of crystals in modern fashion.
The Met Gala, held on 5th May 2026, was a significant event in the fashion calendar, celebrating the theme ‘Fashion is Art’. Swarovski’s participation highlighted its influence on pop culture and fashion through crystal creativity.
Engelbert expressed, “It’s been a joy to collaborate with EJAE and Venus for the Met Gala and to celebrate Swarovski at one of the most important fashion moments of the year.”
Following past Met Gala presentations, Swarovski continued to place House codes and colors into central focus. Engelbert’s response to the 2026 dress code, ‘Fashion is Art’, galvanized the idea of crystal as art itself. The resulting designs honored Swarovski’s role in the world of pop culture through a study of crystal creativity, identity, and savoir-faire. Nodding to the distinct relationships between the artist, the muse, and the finished work of art, Engelbert struck a balance between tradition and modernity, between canvas and result, and between creator and creation.
