Mona Patel brings robotic dog to Met Gala. Meet Vector

Indian-American entrepreneur Mona Patel turned heads at the Met Gala once again.

This time, though, it was not just her outfit that got everyone talking.

The “Mystery Guest” from last year made a striking entry with a robotic dog on a diamond-studded leash.

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At the 2024 Met Gala, Patel had made headlines for her debut look - a gown that flowed to the floor, featuring a butterfly-shaped corset and a scalloped train of moving butterflies that flapped as she walked.

But who is Vector, the robotic dog, and how was he created?

Here’s a look at Vector, what we know about Mona Patel, and her outfit this year.

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Who is Vector?

One of the highlights of Mona Patel’s Met Gala appearance was her robotic dog, designed with inspiration from Thom Browne and built at MIT.

Named Vector, the robotic dog was a nod to “Browne’s iconic dachshund, Hector - but fully robotic, tuxed-up, diamond-leashed, and ready to outshine me at any moment,” Patel told Vogue India.

Vector runs on AI technology, fitted with sensors and programmed to move in customised ways.

The dog wore a tiny tuxedo and was attached to a diamond-studded leash said to include over 1,000 carats, according to Hauterrfly.

Mona Patel’s outfit

Patel wore a custom look by Thom Browne as she walked the red carpet with Vector at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Her outfit featured a halter-neck shirt peeking through a sharply cut suit, brought together by a black, beaded corset-style bodice that pulled in at the waist.

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She paired the outfit with an emerald-cut diamond bowl around her neck, totalling 1,000 carats. A kinetic spine, created by Lisa Jiang and Timothy Bowl, added an extra layer of detail to the all-black outfit.

The look was topped with a dramatic hat by Miodrag Gubernic and finished off with shoes by Rene Caovilla.

Describing the hat, Patel said it was “a little piece of India” because of its embroidery and design inspiration.

Who is Mona Patel?

Mona Patel was born and brought up in Gujarat’s Vadodara. She spent her early years in India before moving to the United States for higher studies at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

“I was eager to experience life outside India and create the life I always dreamed of, in the land of the free and the home of the brave,” she shared on her website.

After completing her time at Rutgers, she returned to India to finish her education at Gujarat University.

At 22, she moved back to the US to follow her entrepreneurial ambitions.

“I packed three large suitcases with most of my priceless possessions and moved from India to Dallas, Texas,” she wrote on her website.

Patel is among the Forbes 1000 honourees and has studied at leading institutions, including Harvard Business School in 2022 and Stanford University’s executive programme in 2020.

She stepped into the business world in 2006 and went on to establish eight companies, working across healthcare, technology, and real estate. As mentioned on her website, “Haute Mona”, her ventures are now worth over $100 million.

Alongside her businesses, Patel is a keen collector of haute couture, with a wardrobe that reflects her love for craftsmanship and cultural traditions.

She also runs a charity, Couture for Cause, which focuses on girls’ education and women’s entrepreneurship, aiming for a meaningful and lasting impact.

Patel often speaks of the role her parents played in her journey. “It’s no secret that my parents had a huge impact on the person I am today. I often credit my father for my entrepreneurial drive and my mother for being my ‘North Star’. Together, they set me on a path to explore a future without limits, and empowered me to travel beyond the boundaries of my comfort zone.”

She was called the “mystery woman” at last year’s Met Gala, where she turned heads with her Iris van Herpen butterfly dress - a debut that quickly became a talking point both in the US and in India.

“I wanted my debut look to be something that celebrates my heritage and also combines my love couture, and when I heard of the theme, Iris Van Herpen seemed like the obvious choice," she told Vogue India earlier.