Mona Patel ‘s statement-making looks have made her one to watch on the couture scene. However, style is just one part of Patel’s active lifestyle. Aside from Couture Week and the red carpet, Patel is a businesswoman and philanthropist—whose various projects include her real estate company Mona Lisa Properties, healthcare tech start-up radXai, and nonprofit organization Couture for Cause. We sat down with the busy fashionista to discuss her viral Met Gala look, fashion inspirations, and how she balances her very full schedule.
Tell us about your professional or work background—a lot of people are wondering what you do professionally!
I am the founder and CEO of several companies. RadXai is a health-tech organization I run with my husband, who is a radiologist. We have clinics in several states that provide medical diagnostic and interpretation services. We’re currently focused on leveraging AI to enhance the accuracy of these technologies for our patients, and I lead that effort. I’m also deeply involved in the real estate field. Most of our healthcare clinics are built and owned by Mona Lisa Properties, a real estate company I lead and manage. We are also working on multiple high-end residential home projects in Florida and California. I keep my hands full within those three organizations.
Mona Patel
Tell us about your viral Met Gala look! How did you interpret this year’s theme?
For the Met Gala look, I drew inspiration from the theme “Garden of Time,” which complemented the spring exhibition “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” and was conducted thorough research. After visiting the Met archives with curator Andrew Bolton, I was inspired by the classic, timeless symbol of the lotus flower, our national flower in India representing purity, rebirth, and awakening, and chose to collaborate with Iris van Herpen. It was important to me to support a female haute couture designer, especially someone as incredibly talented as Iris van Herpen; I love her style. Together, we integrated zardozi embroidery to represent my cultural roots. The design process went through multiple iterations, and at first, there was no movement in the design. Just three weeks before the gala, I had a vision of making my dress multi-sensory based on what I had seen at the museum and sketched out my idea in the middle of the night. Around that same timeframe, I came across an artist—a sculptor—who has nothing to do with the fashion world. I called him the next day and asked, “Could you make something like this?” And he said, “Absolutely not. It’s three weeks out,” and we still made it happen. We then added the kinetic arm piece, transforming the dress into a multi-sensory experience that embodied the exhibition’s theme.
Mona Patel
What was your experience like at the Met Gala? How elaborate was your process when getting ready that day?
I was surprisingly calm on the morning of the event. As it was my first time attending the gala, I didn’t have specific expectations, and being relatively unknown, I didn’t feel any pressure. I knew I had given the process 110% so I was just focused on being my best self and representing Anna Wintour, who had generously invited me. As an entrepreneur and businesswoman, I approached the day methodically, incorporating processes, schedules, and timelines with my team. I chose to get ready at my home in Columbus Circle rather than at a hotel, which provided comfort and tranquility. We treated the day almost like a production. We had a call sheet for everyone from hair to makeup. This systematic and familiar environment helped keep me calm and focused for the event.
Mona Patel
You’ve been busy at Paris Fashion Week’s couture shows this summer. What were some of your highlights?
I love Couture Week. Ready-to-wear Fashion Weeks are usually hectic, but Couture Weeks are special. I generally attend shows for brands I love, such as Schiaparelli and Giambattista Valli, and other brands where I’m a client. I love watching the creativity of these designers firsthand; it is a true delight. This year was my first time attending the Schiaparelli show and I wore a gold kinetic arm accessory piece. Couture Week shows have an incredible energy, mostly attended by clients and a few celebrities who truly appreciate couture. Another highlight was seeing Stéphane Rolland, a dear friend, whose inspirational creativity I admire. He’s an amazing person and a dear friend. I wore his design to Vogue World: Paris this year as his guest. We were together the entire night, which made for a wonderful and unforgettable evening.
What are some of your favorite fashion brands or designers and why?
My fashion range is quite broad. My first love was Alexander McQueen, and I will always be a McQueen girl. Growing up as a tomboy, I wasn’t into fashion and had no favorite designers. But all of that changed in 2011 when I was just starting to get into fashion, and saw McQueen’s exhibition at the Met. McQueen’s “romantic warrior” aesthetic—edgy, powerful, yet subtly feminine—resonated with me and sparked my interest. My style is all about being strong yet elegant and classic, which is an aesthetic blend I look for in brands—and McQueen has been my favorite for a very long time.
Mona Patel
What are some pieces in your closet that have a really special meaning to you?
My Met Gala creation was incredibly special to me and it’s something I will treasure forever, especially the kinetic arm piece. I plan to donate it to the Met one day. The design reflects everything I’ve learned about fashion, despite not coming from that world. Bringing it together was a huge team effort. As an entrepreneur, I am very proud of what we achieved.
You’re a professional businesswoman and philanthropist. What are some of your current ventures?
I consider myself a serial entrepreneur with a passion for creating new businesses. When I came to the US in 2004, my first company was in real estate. Growing up in India, my dad was a developer and I always wanted to do something in that field. Starting my first company at age 22 was a bold move, but it paid off, teaching me invaluable lessons—and the business has evolved. As I mentioned, my husband and I work together on several healthcare startups leveraging innovation to enhance patient care and diagnostic capabilities.
Mona Patel
How have you seen the business and healthcare landscape change over the years?
Healthcare and access to quality healthcare have changed significantly over the years. Our role as providers is to offer seamless care with the most advanced technology possible. As business leaders in the industry, my husband and I have pursued executive education programs at Harvard, Stanford, and MIT, where I got my MBA last year, to enhance our leadership and company strategies. This advanced education has improved our approach to integrating AI in healthcare to provide better care, and in the real estate world for increased profitability. We use what we learn to inspire our team and encourage them to grow, learn, and adapt to new technologies. These educational pursuits align with our core values as founders to prioritize personal and organizational growth.
What’s a piece of advice you would give an upcoming entrepreneur starting their first business?
Don’t fear failure; it’s an essential part of the process. Throughout your life, failure will provide you with opportunities to learn and grow as an individual. You must constantly evolve and have grit, as well as perseverance. That is what leads to success in business.
You’ve had a busy summer, starting with the Met and then going into Couture Week—and even Dolca & Gabbana’s Alta Moda show! What else is coming up for you this season?
Driven by my passion for giving back, I started a small nonprofit seven years ago called Couture for Cause that uses fashion to raise awareness and funds for girls’ education in India. We support various grassroots organizations in the state where I grew up, especially in my hometown. I believe the strongest path to equality and empowerment for girls, especially in India, is through education. With Fashion Month in September, I have a few events planned to further raise awareness for these classroom organizations that are doing the hard work. I’m looking forward to collaborating with brands who support our cause and bringing more attention to these important initiatives.
All images: Courtesy of Mona Patel
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