Arti Juglal Wins Petite Womenswear Designer of the Year & LUXLife Fashion Sustainability Excellence Award
In an industry that so often celebrates tall frames and fleeting trends, House of Arti has become a beacon of representation and responsibility. Founded by Arti Juglal, a 4’9” (1.45m) petite fashion designer who turned personal struggle into creative vision, the brands founder has just been awarded Petite Womenswear Designer of the Year as well as the LUXLife Fashion Sustainability Excellence Award. These accolades celebrate not only design excellence but also a philosophy rooted in inclusivity and conscious fashion.
Sitting down with Arti, we discussed the journey behind the awards, the challenges of building a sustainable brand, and what it truly means to design for women who have long been overlooked by the fashion world.
Interviewer: First of all, congratulations on winning both Petite Womenswear Designer of the Year and the Fashion Sustainability Excellence Award. That’s an extraordinary achievement. How does it feel to be recognised for both artistry and responsibility in fashion? Thank you! It feels incredible, though I won’t lie, it also comes with a lot of responsibility. I’ve poured immense effort and strategy into shaping House of Arti into the brand it is today. To be recognised on both a creative and sustainability level feels like validation that our mission is resonating.
Let’s start at the beginning, what inspired you to create a brand dedicated specifically to petite women, and what personal experiences shaped this vision?
For those who don’t know, I’m 4’9” (145cm) and growing up, I struggled endlessly to find clothing that fit. Everything was too long, oversized, and unflattering. I often felt insecure about my body and wished I could just be tall so my problems would disappear. Later, when I studied fashion design at RMIT University in Melbourne, I graduated with honours after dedicating my research to petite bodies and how they’re represented, or rather, not represented, in fashion. That’s where I began gathering real data and saw an untouched market for what would become my brand.
Winning the Petite Womenswear Designer of the Year award is no small feat. What does this recognition mean for you personally, and for the visibility of petite women in fashion at large? For me, it’s affirmation that we’re on the right path when it comes to garment sizing, fit, and style. Over the past year, we’ve achieved 98% customer satisfaction, which tells me women feel seen and celebrated. For petite women globally, this award is proof that designers are finally taking this space seriously. It gives hope that our voices and needs are not only valid but worth designing for.
You’ve also been honoured with the Fashion Sustainability Excellence Award. Can you share what sustainability means to you, not just as a designer, but as a philosophy for how clothes should be created and worn? Sustainability is layered. For me, it starts with being thoughtful at every stage: from the fabrics we source to how, where, and by whom our garments are made. I’ve always been committed to creating timeless pieces, garments that are beautifully made, versatile from day to night, and last for years, even becoming heirlooms. Our bespoke sizing guide is also part of our sustainability philosophy: when clothing fits properly the first time, it reduces the need for tailoring, alterations, and wasted fabric. True sustainability is about considering not just how the product is made, but its journey throughout its entire life.
Many designers chase trends, but your work feels timeless, considered, and very intentional. How do you approach the design process when creating a garment for petite women, and what details matter most to you? At the moment, our focus is on everyday essentials, because even the basics are often unavailable to petite women. The design process is centred on quality, cut, and fit. Colour palettes are refined, fabrics are chosen for longevity, and every silhouette is adjusted proportionally. The most important element is always fit, because when something fits properly, it instantly feels elevated.
Sustainability in fashion often comes with challenges, from sourcing ethical fabrics to ensuring longevity in design. What are some of the biggest hurdles you’ve faced in building a sustainable brand, and how have you overcome them? It does come with challenges. The biggest hurdle has been sourcing fabrics that are sustainable both environmentally and economically for our customers. Research takes time, meeting suppliers, testing fabrics, ensuring they align with our designs and our price point. It’s a constant balancing act, but one that’s worth the effort to ensure integrity at every step.
The conversation around body diversity in fashion has grown louder in recent years. Where do you see petite women fitting into that dialogue, and do you feel they’ve been left out of inclusivity conversations? Absolutely! we were overlooked for so long. In earlier years, petite women were excluded from body diversity discussions altogether. But now, thanks to social media, we’ve found our voices and we’re not afraid to speak up. It’s getting louder, and I’m here for it. Petite women deserve to be part of the inclusivity movement, and I’m determined to keep pushing that forward.
Beyond fashion, your work touches on confidence, identity, and empowerment for women under 5’2”. What kind of stories do you hope your designs tell for the women who wear them? I want my designs to tell stories of pride, pride in being petite, pride in embracing who you are, pride in standing confidently in your own body. Fashion should empower, not diminish, and that’s the message I hope every woman feels when she wears House of Arti.
You’ve achieved remarkable recognition at this stage in your career. Looking ahead, what’s next for you and your brand, are there new categories, collaborations, or directions you’re excited to explore? Thank you. While much is still confidential, I can say that in the coming year, the vision of House of Arti will become even clearer through collections, collaborations, locations, etc... We have some exciting lineups ahead, these projects that take time to curate, but I promise they’ll be worth the wait.
Finally, for young women (and future designers) who struggle to find their place in an industry that can feel exclusive, what advice would you share about staying authentic, resilient, and true to your vision? Fashion will always be fast-moving and ever-changing, but my advice is simple: know the problem you want to solve (be specific!), and stay true to your aesthetic and identity. When you do that, the work doesn’t feel like an act or a battle, it feels authentic, natural, and fulfilling. That’s how you create impact and longevity in this industry.
As our conversation closes, one thing is clear: Arti Juglal is not only designing clothes, she is reshaping the narrative for petite women and redefining sustainability in fashion. With two major awards now under her belt, her impact extends far beyond the runway. House of Arti stands as a testament that true style knows no height, and that thoughtful, responsible design has the power to change not just wardrobes, but lives.
