Couture, Code, and a Robot Dachshund: Mona Patel’s Met Gala Masterpiece

An evening that celebrates the extravagance of fashion imagination rarely delivers a moment that truly makes you stop and stare. And then came Mona Patel—wearing a tuxedo with flowing silk panels, a shimmering corset hand-embroidered in India, and accompanied by her robotic dachshund. It felt as if time moved both forward and backward at once. In this sense, Patel doesn’t wear clothes—she wears an idea. An idea that power can be quiet, feminine, programmed, hand-stitched, and deeply personal. Her Met Gala vision for 2025 isn’t just a visual spectacle, but an interwoven answer to a question fashion has been asking for decades: what truly shapes us?

In an interview with Harper’s BAZAAR Serbia, Mona Patel reveals how Thom Browne, MIT engineers, Indian embroidery masters, and a Serbian artist came together to create a one-of-a-kind fashion manifesto.

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

Mona Patel: When the invitation landed in my inbox, my first thought was: let this make sense, not just style. I've always been drawn to designers who tell real stories, so I first called Dapper Dan—Vogue introduced us. I dreamed of paying homage to Black designers and the rich tailoring tradition in the Black community. And it had personal meaning for me—my father’s suits meant everything to me growing up. Unfortunately, the timing didn’t work out, so I had to pivot quickly.

“My dear friend Thom Browne came to the rescue.” – MONA PATEL

I’ve loved his precision and poetry for years—as a haute couture collector and a lifelong admirer of masculine elegance. Thom immediately understood the vision: classic tailoring, but with a twist of charm. What I jokingly call “couture drag.” We tried at least ten ideas before settling on the final one: a halter-cut shirt, sharply tailored trousers, a dramatic tailcoat with flowing silk panels, and a sequined corset hand-embroidered in India—a mix of power and seduction.

Then you introduced technology… What inspired that fusion?

Mona Patel: Ah yes—my favorite part. The tailoring was an homage to my father—those suits were the first symbols of power I ever knew. And the technology?

That’s my world. Enter Vector: my robotic dachshund and companion. I’ve spent three decades deeply embedded in healthcare and artificial intelligence—as a student at MIT, Harvard, Stanford, and later as a leader in companies using advanced engineering to improve diagnostics and healthcare services. I was lucky to work with brilliant engineers, and I couldn’t resist bringing that part of my life to the red carpet. Thom brought the tradition; my little robotic sidekick brought the future.

3D printed dog bag with tailored tux and shoes made at my studio and custom made 3D printed hat for Mona Patel 's Met Gala look , in collaboration with Thom Browne

Was Vector just for fun, or did he carry a deeper meaning?

Mona Patel: Both! Fashion is my creative outlet, but I’m simply programmed (pun intended!) to see design as a way to solve problems. Vector wasn’t a prop—we built him from scratch, with artificial intelligence, sensors, and custom movements. I called my former colleagues at MIT (they’re used to my wild ideas), and together we programmed him with a little bit of sass.

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

Mona Patel: Absolutely. I grew up believing that power was tied to masculinity—those sharply cut suits, those rigid lines. But fashion taught me something I didn’t even know I needed to learn: true power comes from authenticity.

 With this look, I wanted to pay homage to that classic image of strength, but to tell it from my own perspective—as a woman, a leader, and honestly, someone who loves a bit of sparkle. I like to think I showed that you don’t have to dress like a man to be powerful. It’s enough to own your story.

Could you have imagined, growing up in India, that one day you'd bring a robot dog to the Met Gala?

Mona Patel: Absolutely not. As a little girl, I collected imported fashion magazines in my small Indian town, dreaming of haute couture, but I never thought I’d enter that world—let alone with a robot. But here’s the thing: I was also a kid who loved taking things apart to see how they worked. So eight-year-old Mona would be thrilled—her two obsessions finally met on the red carpet.

 Some might say all this playfulness diminishes the seriousness of your work. What’s your response?

Mona Patel: People love to put you in boxes, don’t they? Fashion is now the most visible part of my life, but what’s not always seen is that I’m up late working with engineers, developing AI models for faster, less invasive diagnostics—or figuring out ways to improve healthcare for underrepresented communities.

“I always say: fashion is my well-earned hobby.” – MONA PATEL

Every look, every collaboration—I’m behind it all. And my husband? He has endless patience for my love of couture—though I’m sure he wishes my taste were a little less… extravagant.

You’ve fused tech and haute couture before—how did this year's look evolve from previous ones?

Mona Patel: This wasn’t my first time! Last year, I wore an Iris van Herpen gown with hand-embroidered Zardozi motifs and kinetic sleeves that opened like petals—a tribute 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 deeply personal.

(Zardozi motifs are a type of intricate and luxurious embroidery traditionally originating from India, Persia, and some other Middle Eastern countries.

Zardozi motifs are not just embroidery, but a true work of art, combining the richness of materials, the complexity of execution, and the beauty of traditional patterns.)

Are there any hidden details you’re especially proud of?

Mona Patel: Honestly? Vector definitely stole the show, but people may not realize how important the little details were. Take the hat—it looks simple and elegant, but it’s far from it. I worked with the incredibly talented costume designer, milliner, and artist Miodrag Gubernić from Serbia! He’s a true wonder—he’s worked with Hollywood legends like Spielberg. Normally, he needs at least three months for a prototype… but for me, he designed and 3D-printed the final version in a week, going three days without sleep. And the corset? Every bead, every stitch was done by hand by artisans in India. That level of craftsmanship might not show in red carpet photos, but trust me—it’s there, and it means the world to me.

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

Mona Patel: Last year was magical—and chaotic. I was the “mystery guest” who went viral overnight, which I didn’t expect. This year felt different. More grounded. I knew what I wanted to say and felt like I had truly earned my place on that carpet. I wanted to soak it all in, support Anna and the institute, and enjoy the spectacle as someone who’s no longer a complete enigma.

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

Mona Patel: I’m always cooking up something! When it comes to fashion, I’m obsessed with pushing boundaries—more collaborations with artisans and technologists to keep blurring the line between tradition and innovation.

Of course, I’m continuing to build my couture collection, always with the idea that it should have purpose, like raising funds through Couture for Cause. And in tech? The mission remains the same: smarter diagnostics, better care, and healthcare that works the way it should. Whatever I do next, the goal is the same: create boldly and keep evolving.

How do you think the public will respond to your look?

Mona Patel: I hope people have as much fun with it as I did bringing it to life over the past few months. It was truly a labor of love—a love letter to tailoring, a wink to dandy aesthetics, and ultimately a tribute to the eight-year-old Mona who used to play dress-up in her father’s suits back in Baroda.

But above all, it was a collective genius. A vision like this can’t happen without each individual in the team bringing their talent, creativity, and brilliance. From Thom’s exceptional atelier to the Indian artisans, from MIT engineers to Miodrag’s magic in Serbia—I wanted this look to shine a light on all of them. Every stitch, every sensor, every detail carries their spirit.

Source: www.harpersbazaar.rs