Arti Juglal Recognised for Excellence in Petite Womenswear

Arti Juglal, founder and designer of House of Arti, has been named Petite Womenswear Designer of the Year and awarded the LUXlife Fashion Sustainability Excellence Award. The recognition marks a significant milestone for the designer, whose work centres on a distinct approach to ready-to-wear for women between 1.40m and 1.59m.

We spoke with Arti about the thinking behind House of Arti, the development of its design philosophy and the perspective shaping the brand's direction.

House of Arti has a distinct focus within contemporary womenswear. What led you to establish the brand?

House of Arti was founded from my own experience of dressing at 1.45m. Finding clothing that fitted as intended was consistently difficult, particularly when it came to the relationship between a garment and the body. Length was only one part of the problem; proportions were often equally misaligned.

My studies in fashion design at RMIT University in Melbourne, where I graduated with honours, allowed me to explore these challenges through research. That experience became the foundation for House of Arti: a ready-to-wear brand approaching the shorter silhouette from a different perspective.

You have been named Petite Womenswear Designer of the Year. What does this recognition mean to you?

It is meaningful to see the work recognised. House of Arti has been developed with a specific point of view, and the recognition reinforces the importance of that perspective within contemporary womenswear.

For me, the focus remains on building the brand with clarity, developing the wardrobe and continuing to refine the way we approach design.

You have also received the LUXlife Fashion Sustainability Excellence Award. How does responsibility inform your approach to creating clothing?

I believe in approaching the life of a garment with care, from the selection of materials to its construction and the way it is designed to be worn.

Longevity is an important part of that thinking. I am interested in creating pieces that can become part of a woman's wardrobe beyond a particular moment or trend. Fit also plays a role: clothing designed with the body in mind can reduce the need for extensive alterations.

For House of Arti, these considerations form part of a broader commitment to thoughtful design and the decisions made throughout the development process.

How does your design process differ when creating ready-to-wear for shorter women?

The starting point is different. Rather than taking a standard pattern and simply reducing its length, the relationship between the body and the garment needs to be understood from the beginning.

Over the years, I have developed a dedicated approach to proportion that considers elements such as shoulder placement, waist position, neckline, sleeve length and overall silhouette. These relationships influence how a garment sits on the body and how its design is experienced when worn.

The objective is to create clothing that feels resolved in its proportions, while maintaining the aesthetic and versatility expected of contemporary ready-to-wear.

House of Arti has evolved in its visual identity and approach to the wardrobe. How would you describe the direction of the brand today?

The focus is on a more defined wardrobe, built around pieces that feel relevant beyond a single season. I am drawn to simplicity, strong silhouettes, thoughtful details and a restrained approach to colour.

I want House of Arti to have a recognisable identity that extends beyond the fit of the garments. Proportion is fundamental to the brand, but so are the overall aesthetic, the way pieces work together and the feeling they bring to everyday dressing.

What have been some of the challenges of developing a specialised ready-to-wear brand?

Developing clothing for a specific body range requires a level of attention that extends well beyond the initial design. Patterns, grading, fabric behaviour and construction all influence the final result, and each needs to work together.

There is also the challenge of building a distinctive brand while maintaining the practical requirements of production. These decisions take time, development and collaboration with manufacturing partners. The process has reinforced the importance of being clear about what House of Arti stands for and where we want to take it.

What role do you believe petite womenswear has within the wider fashion landscape?

I see an opportunity for petite womenswear to be approached with the same design ambition as any other area of fashion. The conversation does not need to begin and end with finding the correct length.

There is room for a more developed wardrobe, with a clear aesthetic and an understanding of proportion built into the design process. That is the space I want House of Arti to continue exploring.

What do you hope women experience when wearing House of Arti?

I want women to feel that the clothing works with them, both in its fit and in the way it forms part of their wardrobe. Getting dressed should not require constant adjustments or compromise.

Beyond that, I want the pieces to speak for themselves: through their silhouette, their versatility and the confidence that comes from wearing something that feels right.

Looking ahead, what is your vision for House of Arti?

The intention is to continue developing the brand with a clear and consistent point of view. There is more to explore in terms of the wardrobe, the way we present it and the wider world surrounding House of Arti.

I am interested in building something with depth and longevity, where each new direction feels connected to the identity of the House.

Finally, what advice would you give to emerging designers developing a distinctive point of view?

Understand what you want your work to stand for. It takes time to develop a perspective and translate it into something tangible, particularly when you are building a business alongside creative work.

I believe in being specific about your direction, remaining attentive to the details and allowing the work to develop with intention. A clear point of view gives you something to return to as everything else evolves.

For Arti Juglal, the recognition represents a milestone in the continued development of House of Arti. Founded on a specialised understanding of the shorter silhouette, the brand is building a contemporary wardrobe shaped by proportion, a defined aesthetic and a distinct perspective on ready-to-wear.