The world’s most prominent brands—and exciting emerging designers—converge this fall for the inaugural Design Mumbai fair, writes Aditi Sharma

Morii Design works in a home interior. Photograph: Umang Shah

Mumbai is home to some of the best furniture, lighting and decor brands in India, and this year the city welcomes its first major design fair, cementing its place as the country’s design capital. The four-day Design Mumbai, taking place November 6-9, hosts dozens of local and global brands. The show, as touted by co-founders Piyush Suri, Ian Rudge and Michael Dynan, will reflect India’s growing prominence on the global design map. “More design schools are training skilled professionals, and collaborations between Indian and international firms are bringing forth new ideas, making Mumbai a vibrant and dynamic design destination,” says Suri. 

Some of the most sought-after international names in design will be present at the fair—including &Tradition and Poltrona Frau—but there will also be many Indian studios and designers on show. Here’s a spotlight on three local talents at Design Mumbai that are changing the landscape of design in the country.

A Morii Design artisan at work

Morii Design

Indian crafts are at the forefront of this Gandhinagar-based fabrics studio: its hand-embroidered textiles highlight traditional techniques expressed in contemporary designs. Made using locally sourced raw materials, the fabrics are carefully transformed into stunning wall art for the home. The studio works with embroidery communities in villages around the country. “We collaborate with craftspeople and have been training them to produce their best work,” says Morii founder Brinda Dudhat. The resultant intricate, sustainable textiles depict abstract, organic patterns in a range of gentle and bold hues.

Furniture by Objectry. Photograph: Hansraj Dochaniya

Objectry

Simple objects can be timeless and appealing—this is the philosophy of Objectry, a Delhi-based studio founded by designer Aanchal Goel. Its products, from chairs and tables to clocks and lamps, attempt to bring elegance to everyday things. Although each piece is handmade—using materials such as wood, ceramic and cane—there is no roughness or irregularity: all products display clean lines and crisp edges. “Our design ethos is a harmonious blend of contradictions and nostalgia, deeply rooted in the richness of Indian heritage,” says Goel. “Our journey began with a love for materials and a drive for exploration, resulting in products that bring a unique aesthetic into homes. When people visit us, we want them to take back an experience of discovery and joy.”

The Wicker Story founder Priyanka Narula

The Wicker Story

Started by Priyanka Narula, the principal partner at Hyderabad-based architecture and design practice Prelab, The Wicker Story was conceived as a project of harnessing sustainable materials into high-concept wicker designs, produced using digital processes. The first piece launched was Imli Bench, a cocoon-like form made with rattan. Over time, Narula has continued to explore the versatility of rattan—a lightweight and flexible material that can be manipulated into many forms—and wicker as a weaving tool, to create furniture and decorative sculpture in complex, curved forms. By merging craft and parametric design, the studio balances the creativity of the past and the future.

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