New Delhi, Oct. 27 -- For India-born, US-based entrepreneur Mona Patel, fashion is more than a personal passion; it is a space to experiment, collaborate and challenge conventional ideas of power and femininity.

When Patel arrived at the 2024 Met Gala in a custom Iris van Herpen gown, its sculptural silhouette and kinetic lotus-inspired petals made her an overnight sensation. She went from a relative unknown to one of the evening's best-dressed guests, catapulting her into the fashion world's spotlight.

In an interview with Lounge, Patel, who took part in a mentoring programme hosted by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), discusses the designers who have shaped her sensibility, the process of building a custom look and h...