At the 2024 Met Gala, Mona Patel, a fashion entrepreneur from Vadodara, Gujarat, caught everyone’s attention with her striking debut. It wasn’t a seasoned Bollywood actor or a renowned fashion designer but Patel herself who stole the spotlight with her ‘mechanical butterflies’ dress, styled by Law Roach.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art hosted the prestigious event, drawing an array of global celebrities such as Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Gigi Hadid, and Sarah Jessica Parker. Among them, Indian luminaries like Alia Bhatt, Isha Ambani, Natasha Poonawalla, and the esteemed Sudha Reddy showcased their interpretations of the theme, ‘The Garden of Time’.
Patel’s ensemble, a sculpted nude gown by Iris Van Herpen, embodied the essence of the theme with its intricate butterfly-shaped corset and a train adorned with kinetic butterflies that gracefully fluttered as she moved. Her journey from Vadodara to the United States, where she established herself as a fashion entrepreneur, reflects her determination to pursue her dreams.
For the unversed, Patel is among the Forbes 1000 honorees for her philanthropic efforts through her NGO, Couture For Cause. This organisation auctions unique couture pieces to raise funds for charitable causes.
Patel, who grew up in India, initially moved to the US to attend Rutgers University. As mentioned on her Haute Mona website, she completed only one year there before returning to India to finish her undergraduate studies. In 2003, she moved back to the US to start her business career, as noted in the Forbes Next 1000 list from 2021.
In an interview with Vogue India, Patel expressed her desire for her debut look to honour her heritage while seamlessly blending with her passion for couture. She attributed her collaboration with Iris van Herpen to this vision, emphasising the significance of the designer’s aesthetic in achieving her desired style.
