Mona Patel: Tailored With Tech

Veče koje slavi ekstravaganciju modne imaginacije retko kada donese trenutak koji vas zaista natera da zastanete. A onda se pojavila Mona Patel—u fraku sa svilenim panelima, blistavom korsetu izvezenom ručno u Indiji i u društvu svog robotskog jazavičara. Delovalo je kao da je vreme istovremeno krenulo unazad i unapred. U tom pogledu, Patel ne nosi odeću—ona nosi ideju. Ideju da moć može biti tiha, ženstvena, isprogramirana, ručno sašivena i duboko lična. Njena Met Gala vizija za 2025. nije samo vizuelni spektakl, već isprepletan odgovor na pitanje koje moda postavlja već decenijama: šta nas, zaista, oblikuje?

U razgovoru za Harper’s BAZAAR Srbija, Mona Patel otkriva kako su se Thom Browne, inženjeri sa MIT-a, indijski majstori veza i srpski umetnik spojili u jedan jedinstven modni manifest.

Spojili ste impresivna imena—Thom Browne, MIT, umetnika koji se bavi 3D štampom. Kako je sve to došlo na svoje mesto?

Mona Patel: Kada je poziv stigao u moj inbox, prva misao mi je bila: hajde da ovo ima smisla, ne samo stila. Oduvek su me privlačili dizajneri koji pričaju stvarne priče, pa sam prvo pozvala Dapper Dana—Vogue nas je spojio. Sanjala sam o tome da odam počast crnim dizajnerima i bogatoj tradiciji krojenja u crnoj zajednici. I za mene je to imalo lični značaj—očeva odela su mi značila sve dok sam odrastala. Nažalost, tajming nije odgovarao, pa sam morala brzo da promenim pravac.

“Moj dragi prijatelj Thom Browne priskočio je u pomoć.“

– MONA PATEL

Godinama obožavam njegovu preciznost i poeziju—kao kolekcionarka visoke mode i večita zaljubljenica u mušku eleganciju. Thom je odmah razumeo viziju: klasično krojenje, ali sa dozom šarma. Ono što u šali nazivam „couture drag“. Probale smo najmanje deset ideja pre nego što smo došli do konačne: košulja sa halter izrezom, oštro krojene pantalone, dramatičan frak sa lepršavim svilenim panelima i korset sa šljokicama, ručno vezen u Indiji—malo snage, malo zavodljivosti.

Zatim ste u sve uveli i tehnologiju… Šta je inspirisalo taj spoj?

Mona Patel: Ah, da—moj omiljeni deo. Krojenje je bilo omaž mom ocu—ta odela su bila prvi simbol moći koji sam spoznala. A tehnologija? To je moj svet. Tu na scenu stupa Vector: moj robotski jazavičar i saputnik. Već tri decenije sam duboko u zdravstvu i veštačkoj inteligenciji—kao studentkinja na MIT-u, Harvardu, Stanfordu, a potom i kao liderka u biznisima koji koriste napredni inženjering za unapređenje dijagnostike i zdravstvenih usluga. Imala sam sreće da radim sa briljantnim inženjerima, i nisam mogla da odolim da i taj deo svog života ne pokažem na crvenom tepihu. Thom je doneo tradiciju; moj mali robotski pratilac—budućnost.

Da li je Vector bio samo za zabavu, ili je nosio dublje značenje?

Mona Patel: Oboje! Moda je moj kreativni izlaz, ali ja sam jednostavno programirana (namerno igra reči!) da dizajn posmatram kao način rešavanja problema. Vector nije bio rekvizit—stvorili smo ga od nule, sa veštačkom inteligencijom, senzorima i prilagođenim pokretima. Pozvala sam svoje bivše kolege sa MIT-a (navikli su već na moje lude ideje), i zajedno smo ga programirali da ima i malo stava.

Rekli ste da je ova kombinacija bila i izjava moći—na koji način?

Mona Patel: Apsolutno. Odrasla sam verujući da je moć vezana za muškost—ta strogo krojena odela, te oštre linije. Ali moda me naučila nečemu što nisam ni znala da mi je potrebno da naučim: prava moć dolazi iz autentičnosti.

Ovim izgledom sam želela da odam počast toj klasičnoj slici snage, ali da je ispričam iz sopstvene perspektive—kao žena, kao liderka, i iskreno, kao neko ko voli malo sjaja. Volim da verujem da sam pokazala da ne morate da se oblačite kao muškarac da biste bili moćni. Dovoljno je da posedujete svoju priču.

Da li ste ikada mogli da zamislite, dok ste odrastali u Indiji, da ćete jednog dana dovesti robota psa na Met Gala?

Mona Patel: Apsolutno ne. Kao devojčica, skupljala sam uvozne modne magazine u svom malom gradu u Indiji, sanjajući o visokoj modi, ali nikada nisam mislila da ću zakoračiti u taj svet—a kamoli sa robotom. Ali evo u čemu je stvar: takođe sam bila dete koje je obožavalo da rastavlja stvari da vidi kako rade. Tako da bi osmogodišnja Mona bila oduševljena—njene dve opsesije konačno su se srele na crvenom tepihu.

Neki bi možda rekli da sva ta zaigranost umanjuje ozbiljnost vašeg rada. Šta vi kažete na to?

Mona Patel: Ljudi vole da vas stavljaju u kutije, zar ne? Moda je sada najvidljiviji deo mog života, ali ono što se ne vidi uvek jeste da do kasno u noć radim sa inženjerima, razvijajući AI modele za bržu i manje invazivnu dijagnostiku—ili smišljam načine da poboljšamo zdravstvenu zaštitu za nedovoljno zastupljene zajednice.

“Uvek kažem: moda je moj zasluženi hobi.”

– MONA PATEL

Svaki izgled, svaka saradnja—iza svega stojim ja. I moj muž? On ima neiscrpno strpljenje za moju ljubav prema visokoj modi—mada sam sigurna da bi voleo da mi je ukus malo manje… raskošan.

Već ste ranije spajali tehnologiju i visoku modu—kako se ovogodišnji izgled razvijao iz prethodnih?

Mona Patel: Nije mi prvi put! Prošle godine nosila sam Iris van Herpen haljinu sa ručno vezenim Zardozi motivima i kinetičkim rukavima koji su se otvarali kao latice—moj omaž Hramu lotosa u Indiji. Ove godine sam obrnula formulu: Thomov tim je radio na tradicionalnom zanatu, dok sam ja donela tehnološke elemente kako bih sve učinila lično svojim.

Postoje li neki skriveni detalji na koje ste posebno ponosni?

Mona Patel: Iskreno? Vector je definitivno ukrao šou, ali ljudi možda ne shvataju koliko su mali detalji važni. Recimo šešir—deluje jednostavno i elegantno, ali daleko je od toga. Radila sam sa neverovatno talentovanim kostimografom, modistom i umetnikom, Miodragom Gubernićem iz Srbije! On je pravi čudo od čoveka—sarađivao je i sa holivudskim legendama poput Spielberga. Obično mu treba minimum tri meseca za prototip… ali za mene je dizajnirao i 3D štampao konačnu verziju za nedelju dana, bez sna tri dana. A korset? Svaka perla, svaki šav, ručno su radili majstori iz Indije. Taj nivo zanata se možda ne vidi u fotografijama sa crvenog tepiha, ali verujte mi—tu je, i znači mi sve.

Ovo nije bio vaš prvi Met Gala—šta je ovog puta bilo drugačije?

Mona Patel: Prošle godine bilo je magično—i haotično. Bila sam „misteriozna gošća“ koja je postala viralna preko noći, što nisam očekivala. Ove godine je bilo drugačije. Bilo je prizemljenije. Znala sam šta želim da poručim i imala sam osećaj da sam zaista zaslužila svoje mesto na tepihu. Želela sam da sve upijem, podržim Annu i institut i da uživam u spektaklu kao neko ko više nije potpuna enigma.

Šta je sledeće za vas—na i van crvenog tepiha?

Mona Patel: Uvek nešto smišljam! Kada je reč o modi, opsednuta sam pomeranjem granica—više saradnji sa zanatlijama i tehnolozima, kako bih nastavila da brišem granicu između tradicije i inovacije. Naravno, nastavljam da gradim svoju kolekciju visoke mode, uvek sa idejom da ima i neku svrhu, poput prikupljanja sredstava kroz Couture for Cause. A kad je reč o tehnologiji? Misija ostaje ista: pametnija dijagnostika, bolja nega i zdravstvo koje funkcioniše onako kako bi trebalo. Šta god sledeće preduzela, cilj je isti: stvarati hrabro i stalno se razvijati.

Šta mislite, kako će publika reagovati na vaš izgled?

Mona Patel: Nadam se da će se ljudi zabaviti koliko i ja dok sam radila na ovom izgledu proteklih meseci. Ovo je zaista bio rad iz ljubavi—ljubavno pismo krojenju, mig dendi estetici, i na kraju omaž mojoj unutrašnjoj osmogodišnjoj Moni, koja se igrala oblačenja u tatina odela u Barodi.

Ali najviše od svega, ovo je bio kolektivni genije. Vizija poput ove ne može se ostvariti bez svakog pojedinca u timu koji donosi svoj talenat, kreativnost i briljantnost. Od Thomovog izuzetnog ateljea do majstora u Indiji, od inženjera na MIT-u do Miodragove magije u Srbiji—želela sam da ovaj izgled baci svetlo na sve njih. Svaki šav, svaki senzor, svaka perla, svaka 3D linija—sve je to dokaz njihovog rada, i beskrajno sam zahvalna.

Poslednje reči?

Mona Patel: Veliko hvala Harper’s Bazaar Srbija što ste mi omogućili da podelim celu priču iza mog izgleda sa Met Gale 2025. Ovo je bilo više od mode—bio je to lični omaž umetnosti krojenja, mom nasleđu i mojoj doživotnoj ljubavi prema tehnologiji.

Od saradnje sa Thomom Browneom i zanatlijama iz Indije, do tima inženjera sa MIT-a koji su pomogli da Vector, robotski pas, oživi—svaki detalj bio je spoj tradicije i inovacije. Radujem se što mogu da vam otkrijem svu kreativnost (i malu dozu haosa!) koja je omogućila da se sve to dogodi.

Talent: Mona Patel @hautemona
Photographer: ALIKHAN @alikhan_photography
Art Director: Radik Ayzharikov @radik_aijarikov
Style: Mona Patel @hautemona
Co-Stylist: Ahmad Alek @ahmad.alek
Makeup: Sidney Jamila @sidneyjamilabeauty
Hair: Chris Martin @bychrismartin
Male Models: Aaron Turner, Gregory Kauffmann, Jared Prudoff-Smith, Dios
Mac
Male Grooming: Natalia Malova @nataliamalovamua
Producer: Ahmad Alek
Photographer Assistants: Nicole Balboa, Benjamin Warner
Hair Assistants: Edgar Martin
Stylist Assistant: Charles Calzada

Mona Patel: Tailored With Tech

Tradition reimagined through silk, sequins and AI

Look: Custom Thom Browne
Hat Designer: Miodrag Guberinic
Shoes: Rene Caovilla
Robotic Dog: MIT Engineers, Dariel Garcia
Robotic Dog Look: Thom Browne, Sylvio Kovacic
Jewellery: Custom

In a night devoted to fashion’s most extravagant fantasies, few moments truly make you pause. And then came Mona Patel—in a flowing silk-paneled tailcoat, a hand-embroidered corset from India, and accompanied by a robotic dachshund. It felt as if time had bent in both directions. Patel doesn’t just wear clothes—she wears an idea. The idea that power can be quiet, feminine, programmed, hand-stitched, and deeply personal. Her 2025 Met Gala look was more than a visual spectacle; it was a layered response to fashion’s ongoing question: what truly shapes us?

In this exclusive interview with Harper’s BAZAAR Serbia, Mona reveals how Thom Browne, MIT engineers, Indian artisans, and a Serbian artist came together to craft a singular sartorial manifesto.

You merged some incredible names—Thom Browne, MIT, a 3D-printing artist. How did
it all come together?

Mona Patel: When that invite hit my inbox, my first instinct was: let’s make it meaningful, not just fashionable. I’ve always gravitated toward designers who tell real stories, so my first call was Dapper Dan—Vogue put us in touch. I dreamed of honoring Black designers and the rich legacy of Black tailoring. That tribute felt personal too: my father’s suits were everything to me growing up. The timing didn’t work out, so I had to pivot fast!

“My dear friend, Thom Browne came to the rescue.”

– MONA PATEL

I’ve adored his precision and poetry for years—as a couture collector and a lifelong menswear obsessive. Thom instantly got the vision: classic tailoring, but with a wink. What I cheekily call “couture drag.” We tried at least a dozen ideas before landing on the final look: a halter shirt, razor-sharp trousers, a dramatic tailcoat with flowing silk paneling, and a sequin corset hand-embroidered in India—a little power, a little seduction.

And then you brought tech into the mix… what sparked that fusion?

Mona Patel: Ah, yes—my favorite part. The tailoring was all about honoring my father—those suits were the first symbol of power I ever knew. But the tech? That’s my world. Enter Vector: my robotic dachshund sidekick. I’ve spent three decades deep in healthcare and AI–as a student at MIT, Harvard, Stanford and then leading businesses that leverage cutting edge engineering to improve diagnostics and healthcare delivery. I’ve been lucky to work with some brilliant engineers, and I couldn’t resist bringing that part of my life onto the red carpet. Thom’s tailoring brought the tradition; my little robot date brought the future.

Was Vector just for fun—or something deeper?

Mona Patel: Both! Fashion is my creative outlet, but I’m wired (pun intended) to think about design as problem-solving. Vector wasn’t just a prop—we built him from scratch with AI, sensors, and custom movement. I called up my old classmates at MIT (who are very used to my wild ideas by now), and we programmed him with a little sass, too.

You’ve said this look was also a power statement—how so?

Mona Patel: Absolutely. I grew up equating power with masculinity—those crisp suits, those sharp lines. But fashion has taught me something I didn’t realize I needed to learn: real power comes from being yourself.

This look lets me honor that old-school image of strength and rewrite it through my own lens—as a woman, a business leader, and, let’s be honest, someone who loves a bit of sparkle. I like to think I showed that you don’t need to dress like a man to hold power. You just need to
own your story.

Did you ever imagine, growing up in India, that you’d one day bring a robotic dog to the Met Gala?

Mona Patel: Absolutely not. Growing up, I was that kid hoarding imported fashion magazines in my small hometown in India, dreaming of couture but never imagining I’d step into that world—let alone with a robot. But here’s the thing: I was also the kid who loved taking things apart to see how they worked. So in a way, eight-year-old Mona would be thrilled—her two obsessions finally collided on the red carpet.

Some might think all this playfulness undermines the seriousness of your work.
What’s your take?

Mona Patel: People love to put you in boxes, don’t they? Sure, fashion is the most visible part of my life now, but what they don’t always see is me up late with engineers, working on AI models to deliver faster, less invasive diagnostics—or strategizing ways to close healthcare gaps for underserved communities.

“I always say: fashion is my earned hobby.“

– MONA PATEL

Every look, every collaboration, I’ve built and backed myself. And my husband? He’s endlessly patient with my love of couture—though I’m pretty sure he’d prefer my tastes were a little less… elaborate.

You’ve blended tech and couture before—how did this year’s look evolve from that?

Mona Patel: Not my first rodeo! Last year, I wore an Iris van Herpen gown complete with hand-embroidered Zardozi with kinetic sleeves that unfurled like petals—my nod to the Lotus Temple in India. This year, I flipped the formula: Thom’s team handled the traditional craftsmanship, while I brought in the tech elements to make it feel uniquely me.

Any hidden details you’re especially proud of?

Mona Patel: Honestly? Vector definitely stole the show, but what people might not realize is how much went into all the little things. Take the hat, for instance—it looks sleek and simple, but it was anything but. I actually worked with an insanely gifted costume designer, milliner, and artist, Miodrag Gubernic from Serbia! He’s a total prodigy—he’s collaborated with Hollywood legends like Spielberg. He usually spends a minimum of three months perfecting prototypes… but for me, Mio designed and 3-D printed the final version in one week, and didn’t sleep for three days straight. And the corset? Every bead, every stitch, all done by hand by master artisans in India. That kind of craftsmanship doesn’t always show up in red carpet photos, but I promise you—it’s there, and it means everything to me.

This wasn’t your first Met—what felt different this time?

Mona Patel: Last year was magical—and wild. I was the “mystery guest” who went viral overnight, which I did not see coming. This year felt different. More grounded. I knew what I wanted to say, and I felt like I’d earned my place on the carpet. I want to soak it in more, support Anna and the institute, and just enjoy the spectacle as someone who’s a bit less of a mystery now.

What’s next for you—on and off the red carpet?

Mona Patel: I’m always scheming! Fashion-wise, I’m obsessed with pushing boundaries—more collaborations with artisans and technologists to keep blurring the line between tradition and innovation. And of course, I’m growing my couture collection, always with an eye on how to give it purpose, like fundraising through Couture for Cause. On the tech side? The mission remains: smarter diagnostics, better care, and making healthcare as seamless for patients as it should be. Whatever I take on next, the goal is the same: create boldly, and keep evolving.

What do you think the audience’s reaction will be to your look?

Mona Patel: I hope people have as much fun with the look as I had bringing it to life over the past few months. It really was a labor of love—a love letter to tailoring, a wink to dandyism, and ultimately a tribute to my inner eight-year-old, playing dress-up in my dad’s suits in Baroda.

But most of all, this was about collective genius. A vision like this doesn’t happen without every single person on the team showing up with their talent, creativity, and brilliance. From Thom’s extraordinary atelier to the artisans in India, from the engineers at MIT to Miodrag’s magic in Serbia—I wanted this look to shine a light on all of them. Every stitch, every sensor, every bead, every 3D-printed curve—it’s a testament to their hard work, and I’m endlessly grateful.

Any last words?

Mona Patel: A huge thank you to Harper’s Bazaar Serbia for inviting me to share the full story behind my 2025 Met Gala look. This was more than just fashion—it was a personal tribute to the art of tailoring, my heritage, and my lifelong love of tech.

From working with Thom Browne and artisans in India to teaming up with MIT engineers to bring Vector the robotic dog to life, every detail was a fusion of tradition and innovation. I’m excited to pull back the curtain on all the creativity (and a little chaos!) that made it happen.