Delaware, OH native Anjali Phougat displayed her designs at New York Fashion Week for the seventh time, which ran from Feb. 10 to Feb. 15. 

   Phougat grew up in Gurugram, a suburb of Delhi, India, but has resided in the U.S. since 2008. Though she works in IT for a bank, fashion has been a passion of hers for years, according to the Columbus Dispatch. 

   “My soul is involved in this,” Phougat told the Dispatch. “I can work like this for hours and hours because I’m not working for anybody else and money is not the drive.”

   According to an interview with the Columbus Dispatch, her drive for design began after she won a beauty pageant with a dress she had created herself. She formed a name for herself when she kicked off her brand, Designer Dream Collection, and has created designs as a side hustle for years. 

   Her designs combine elements of Western and Indian styles with a focus on sustainability. Many of her pieces use recycled materials, which include dresses she bought from clients to repurpose. Last year, she participated in Columbus Fashion Week’s “Beautiful Garbage” segment in which she designed articles out of newspaper and magazine clippings. 

   According to the U.N. Environment Program, the fashion industry accounts for between 2% and 8% of global carbon emissions and is the world’s second-largest consumer of water. Trends that come about via fast fashion only expedite this process. 

   Phougat also rents out her pieces to reduce the level of clothing that goes to waste. Her designs have been showcased on several Miss Universes from India, Venezuela, Chile, and Armenia. Additionally, her designs have been worn by multiple Indian film actresses such as Mannara Chopra and Somy Ali.

   Furthermore, Phougat places a focus on fashion for everyone, regardless of age, race, or body type. 

   In an interview with Urban Asian, Panjali revealed that “Beauty has no age, no barriers.”

   The 40-year-old designer is proud to create looks that can be versatile and fit for anyone. Oftentimes beauty is restricted to certain standards, but Phougat’s collection defies this. 

   It’s not just clothing that Phougat has delved into. Her brand includes a line of jewelry that draws on Indian styles for inspiration.  She currently owns a wedding boutique in Delaware County and bases her career out of her home in Delaware.