Fashion for a cause: Designer Anjali Phougat helps Human Trafficking victims through sustainable fashion line at New York Fashion Week

Recycling sustainable fashion is something that designer Anjali Phougat has always believed in and her lines have always reflected that. Her latest show at the New York Fashion Week, that took place on February 10th and 11th, doesn’t only showcase sustainable fashion, but also she will be using this collection for a fundraiser fashion show to help human trafficking victims education.

First time in history many mother daughter duos walked on NYFW Runway for leading designer Anjali Phougat along with Miss Universe Bolivia who uses her voice to stop bullying for students  and they set up example for the community that runways should be inclusive of all shapes, age and body type and there should be diversity and inclusion and bullying should never be tolerated  at any level.  All the role models showcased variety of red carpet collection made with reused and recycled fabric to promote sustainability in fashion industry

Talking about the line, Anjali says, “We feature recycled materials to showcase sustainability, an issue which has always been close to my heart.” Anjali, an Ohio-based designer designs luxury garments and jewelry that are produced in India and worn by people from all over the world — including Bollywood actors, Hollywood celebrities and Miss Universe pageant winners. Phougat has designed outfits for Miss Universes from India, Chile, Venezuela and Armenia, as well as Indian film actresses Mannara Chopra and Somy Ali. She created jewelry that Ellie Kemper wore as host of "The Great American Baking Show" and that Indian model Harnaaz Sandhu, Miss Universe 2021 wore on "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah."

This time at New York Fashion week, she showcased 60 different looks in multiple shows including Runway 7 platform, including bridal outfit and a men’s black sequin sherwani coat, embroidered with golden wire using a traditional Indian technique called zardozi.

“The clothing industry is the world’s second-biggest consumer of water and is responsible for between 2% and 8% of global carbon emissions, according to the U.N. Environment Program. We buy old dresses from customers and put these to new use through alterations. I also rent out dresses for reuse and participated in the ‘Beautiful Garbage’ show during last year’s Columbus Fashion Week. In fact, my daughter Arna, 10, helped me design an outfit inspired by the Statue of Liberty using old magazines,” she says.

Sofia Depassier, 24, who was crowned Miss Universe Chile in 2022, was Phougat’s models this week in New York. “You can really tell working with a designer when they're very passionate. That's one of the things that excites me most about working with Anjali,” she said over the phone from Florida.

Students at Ohio State University spoke glowingly of Phougat, who also participated in the campus fashion shoot Unchained to raise money for victims of human trafficking last year. Not only this, Sofia Depassier, Miss Universe Chille, Camila Sanabria- Miss Universe Bolivia and Kristina Ayanian - Miss Universe Armania walked together under one roof in the fashion show. The brand ambassador was Payal Mandewalker, while the show stopper was Meenal Manikandan Mamtha Puttaswamy and Prerna Gupta opened the show with the mom daughter segment. Jes Ruzic provided the backstage styling assistance.