ET Startup Awards 2026: Silicon Valley called. They want their wardrobe back!
The ET Startup Awards’ Silicon Valley dress code brought out puffer vests and sneakers, dresses where blazers might once have been, and silk saris worn with fitness watches. Striking a balance between boardroom polish and founder-casual ease, guests rounded off their looks with smart rings and trackers, turning the evening’s uniform into something more personal and data-driven.
The ET Startup Awards 2026 challenged traditional dress codes, as Silicon Valley residents returned to their roots and swapped blazers for puffer vests and sneakers. Attendees accessorized with trackers, making the startup uniform more personal and data-driven. Several founders and venture capitalists ditched conventional blazers, opting for Patagonia and The North Face vests instead.
AI startup Kello's Mona Gandhi donned Alaïa fishnet mesh ballerina flats, adding an elegant touch to her ensemble. Smart rings, temple-mounted devices, and Whoop fitness bands were among the wearables spotted around the venue, indicating a trend towards wearables that tracked sleep, recovery, and performance. LAT Aerospace's cofounder Surobhi Das showcased three tracking devices, with sleep tracking proving most useful.
River Law's founder Archana Rajaram balanced Indian attire with a fitness watch, while Indus Appstore's Priya Narasimhan wore a Mysore silk sari with a fitness watch. Abhishek Goenka from Aeka Advisors incorporated Koio suede shoes into his outfit, while IKEA India CEO Patrik Antoni opted for a Tiger of Sweden suit, Adidas Gazelles, and his lucky golf watch for inspiration.
Written by urgent.news from Economic Times Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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