Back for its second year running, Design Mumbai runs this week with a strategy that is serving it well. Unlike most European fairs, the four day event places its entire focus on the vibrant design of South Asia and its diaspora. A new wave of designers has brought modern, boundary-pushing creations that stand comfortably on the global stage, positioning India as a dynamic destination on the global design map.

This year the show spotlights several female-led brands, and an Emerging Designers pavilion showcasing compelling young Indian voices. Here’s a look at the names you shouldn’t miss.

Placyle Sustainable Studio

The designers behind Placyle ask a simple but compelling question: what if plastic waste could be turned into something beautiful? Each piece, made from ‘garbage’, is strong, versatile and enduring, making a striking statement in vivid tones. At the show, keep an eye out for the Torii Bench, inspired by the geometry of Japanese shrine gates and crafted from layered recycled plastic lumbers with cushioned comfort. The sculptural form of the Shark Fin Sling Chair echoes the elegant arc of a shark’s fin, and the Portal Arc Lighting Series features a table lamp and four-foot floor lamp fashioned from curved recycled forms that diffuse the warm glow.

Kohelika Kohli Karkhana

Falling under the umbrella of K2 India, a well-recognised name in Indian architecture, Kohelika Kohli’s brand is more exploratory, experimenting with the juxtaposition of materials to create bespoke, collectible furniture. At the show, her pieces demonstrate the art of elevating materials often dismissed as waste or considered too ordinary.

Hearty Muse Atelier

Beyond their hand-crafted, tufted and knotted rugs and embroideries, Hearty Muse specialises in sculptural furniture and lighting with experimental materials and bold textural play. The brand sets itself apart with its bespoke offering. A team of talented craftspeople pour expertise and passion into every piece, bringing intricate designs to life with precision and care. Customisation — from shapes and colours to sizes and finishes – is central to the ethos, allowing clients to tailor pieces to spaces and preferences.

Sabbi, presented by Surface and Design

Stone, too, can be wonderfully architectural and visually arresting when crafted with precision. Sabbia, named after the Italian word for sand, is built on this very belief, shaping furniture that fuses the strength of stone with the organic softness of sand. Made in sustainable micro-concrete and enriched with beautifully organic textures, each handcrafted piece follows the principles of wabi-sabi, celebrating imperfection, simplicity and timeless craftsmanship.

Thread Arte

Thread Arte began as an experiment in 2004, as a way to put textile waste to meaningful use, and has since evolved into a patented, award-winning practice, with works acquired by collectors across the country. The studio transforms discarded textiles into art, and what started as pieces for the wall has expanded into spatial installations, collectibles and furniture components. Today, newer materials such as metal, wood and glass have also entered the studio’s creative process.