Every year, Milan Design Week transforms the city into a global playground of creativity, innovation, and design, fostering interactions and experiences. From April 8 to April 13, Milan Design Week 2025, elevates the game once again with a sharper emphasis on sustainability, cross-cultural storytelling, and emotion-led design.
One of the most exciting changes this year was the increasing visibility of Indian designers in many of the major exhibitions and independent showcases. Indian design is no longer confined to the periphery but rather enters the conversation with confidence and cultural grounding, celebrating the humanity of craft while embracing innovation, collaboration, and meanings that are relevant to a global audience.
With both heritage textile and artisan-rooted furniture, as well as digitally crafted hybrids and poetic material expressions, Indian voices were represented across important platforms, from the Isola Design Festival to Alcova and Villa Bagatti Valsecchi.
Let’s dive into the blog to explore 7 Indian Designers and their collectives setting a benchmark at Milan Design Week 2025!
The theme of the Year ~ ‘Design is Human‘
At Milan Design Week 2025, Jaipur Rugs distinguished themselves with “Playing with Tradition,” a lively collaboration with the Dutch designer Richard Hutten. Jaipur Rugs features carpets rooted in Indian craftsmanship blended with a spirit of playful modernity. It used bold splashy colors and patterns that took inspiration from Holi, demonstrating how tradition evolves through contemporary design narratives.
Vikram Goyal Studio impressed visitors at Nilufar Depot with their new curated capsule collection of limited edition items. All of these signify a beautiful connection between India’s rich tradition of artisanal craft and its colorful contemporary creative scene. Additionally, the studio actively revives traditional Indian metalworking practices. Each piece exhibited Vikram Goyal’s signature skill set in the contemporary design space while honoring aspects of Indian heritage.
Renowned Indian fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani collaborated with Chinese designer Duyi Han to present the “Celestial Manual” chandelier. The “Celestial Manual” chandelier also pays tribute to artisanal workers who make Tahiliani’s fashion. It transforms skilled handicrafts into a work of illumination. Moreover, this collaboration embodies a mix of design and fashion. Additionally, it emphasizes the artisanal work that lends significance to each discipline.
The Rasa Collective highlighted the evolving narrative of Indian design on the global stage. Exhibited by Isola Studio and curated by Nidhi Chandak and Varun E S, members of Isola Studio’s India-based crew, depicts design as a result of emotional storytelling through stories of artisans, cultural continuity, and innovation. The Sanskrit word Rasa or subtly experiencing emotional stories through creative expression, is referenced in the exhibition of over 15 Indian designers and design studios. These studios balance tradition and modernity which include hand-blown glass, marble, textiles, and terrazzo. Furthermore, they are made from construction waste, sandstone, woven bamboo, and woodwork.
Aya Kawabata’s “The Shadow of the Sun,” created in collaboration with the Chanakya School of Craft, was an expressive and poetic tribute to traditional Indian architecture. Presented as part of the Shakti Design Residency, the work referenced the exquisite dance of light and shadow in ancient stone carvings in India. Made of raffia woven together in various densities and thicknesses, the installation shifted light in subtle ways throughout the day and invited viewers to interact with it as a living, breathing part of the space. Beyond being a visual exploration, the work also paid tribute to the passage of time, materiality, and craft.
At Milan Design Week 2025, Klove Studio founded by Prateek Jain and Gautam Seth, introduced VISTA. It is a light installation exhibited at Alcova Milano as part of the Shakti Design Residency. This sculptural lighting collection was crafted with designer Kickie Chudikova in accordance with the residency philosophy. VISTA demonstrates Klove Studio’s alignment of Indian traditional craft with contemporary design. Moreover, it resonates with their unique artistry in handblown glass lighting installations.
A collaboration between Indo-Norwegian textile designer Helena Bajaj-Larsen and Jaipur Rugs exhibits a collection of exclusive handwoven textiles that combined Scandinavian minimalism with a burst of Indian textile history. This exhibition was at Villa Bagatti Valsecchi for the launching of Shakti Design Residency. It is an enterprise to connect artisanship in Indian heritage with the global design community.
Thus, Indian designers continue to make a strong impact at Milan Design Week 2025, celebrating heritage and reserving a space for a forward-thinking design perspective. Moreover, this global platform is only the starting point of a larger journey.
The thought was to create a space which would act as a formal real estate workspace in the daytime and a family retreat in the evening. By its name, as it is, ‘Leveled. This office with a garden is defined using levels, in terms of volumes, surfaces as well as edges. These levels are rationalized […]
Nirmay (निर्मय) reflects purity and holistic well-being. Envisioned as a quiet sanctuary amidst the noise of urban life, these courtyard villas offer a way of living that is calm, conscious, and deeply connected to the land. Rooted in sustainability and ecological harmony, the design responds to both nature and the everyday rhythms of its inhabitants. […]
Winterfell is a work of camouflaged design, an organic house that melds seamlessly with the terrain, rolling into the vibrant green landscape and naturally positioned boulders. Set in the scenic village of Shoolagiri within the Sanctity Ferme community in Tamil Nadu, Winterfell offers an idyllic retreat from urban life—a place to live close to nature. […]
The design concept of Tipu Villa embodies a harmonious balance of boldness and sophistication, crafting spaces that exude refinement and elegance, resulting in a true heritage home. Key design elements include exclusive use of Indian-sourced materials, including Indian teak wood, veneer, natural Kota lime stone, and yellow lime stone, promoting cultural charm and heritage. Tipu […]
Office spaces are often defined by uninspired, industrial aesthetics—endless rows of cubicles, glaring fluorescent lights and austere décor. It’s easy to become desensitized to the potential for beauty in these environments where we spend so much of our time. And with the demands for extended work hours becoming an accepted norm, the line between work […]
Nestled amidst the serene outskirts of Bangalore, this 1.25-acre modern farm house embodies a seamless fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern design sensibilities. Every detail of the property reflects an unwavering commitment to creating a space that harmonizes with its natural surroundings while honoring heritage. This Modern Farm House Reflects Harmony with Nature and Heritage […]
The client envisioned a home that embodies openness and fluidity through interior contemporary design. He is drawn to expansive volumes and dramatic spatial experiences, including double-height ceilings and multiple floors. Each family member should have a distinct, personal space, yet all areas must remain visually and spatially connected to foster a strong sense of togetherness. […]
The Brahmaputra riverfront rejuvenates a natural water lily pond, creates a new river edge, and seamlessly connects the site to the adjacent heritage museum, fostering public interaction. Editor’s Note: “A combination of contours and current, the design of the Brahmaputra riverfront unfolds like a living memory. Quietly celebrating time and terrain, every curve echoes the […]
Located in the coastal village of Pererenan, Bali, House Terra is a contemporary response to tropical living, designed by Biombo Architects as a family retreat. The project balances built space and landscape, creating a strong connection between architecture and nature while offering shelter from the island’s monsoon climate. Editor’s Note: “House Terra, more than a […]
Located on a 15′ x 95′ ancestral plot in a pal village, Surat, India, this residence is designed for a multi-generational family of seven. This minimal home interior design solves light and space challenges within a narrow plot. The family wanted to stay connected with their community and preserve their cultural roots. The site has […]