Design fairs are almost always about narratives rather than products. They are about moments of encountering what’s new, and finding fresh perspectives on how familiarity can be reimagined in our everyday lives. On its debut last year, Design Mumbai managed to capture that sense of discovery while bridging the gap between Indian and global design communities. The fair — set to return to the Jio World Garden in Mumbai from November 26–29, 2025 — will bring forth a highly curated exhibitor lineup comprising some of the most influential designers, architects and brands from India and beyond, in addition to a packed programme highlighting ambitious collaborations, cerebral talks, and a distinguished curation.

For Design Mumbai co-founders Ian Rudge, Michael Dynan and Piyush Suri, the event’s identity is of “the only truly international design show in India.” Expanding on its ethos, the trio tells STIR, “Our show is an expertly produced platform for showcasing India’s creative power on a global stage. It continues to spotlight India’s impactful contributions to the international design landscape”. The collective vision is reinforced by the credibility of the leadership and its multifaceted backgrounds: Rudge co-founded 100 per cent Design in London which is one of the UK’s distinguished design events, while Dynan co-founded Design Shanghai that enjoys its reputation of being ‘Asia’s leading international design event’. Suri brings his vast experience as a designer, brand owner and event organiser, alongside his role as a presenter for the BBC. Meanwhile, Design Mumbai’s host Montgomery Group— the UK’s longest running independent event organiser — has an established track record with high-quality international events such as Art Central in Hong Kong and the India Art Fair.

Beyond its role as a contemporary design show, Design Mumbai is expanding as an essential annual gathering for professionals across hospitality, retail, workplace and residential design sectors. This year introduces new partnerships with design institutions, leading media and cultural organisations, and building networks that reinforce the fair’s value as both a business catalyst and a cultural platform.

The duality of Indian design gaining global visibility and international brands engaging with the Indian landscape runs through this year’s exhibitor line-up. One of the most anticipated showcases to arrive at the event will be by the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) in collaboration with Indian furniture manufacturer Phantom Hands. Marking a cross-cultural exchange of materials and making, the presentation will bring together works developed with international designers such as Melbourne-based architect Adam Markowitz, x+l from India, Chandigarh Collective and the Milan-Copenhagen based duo Inoda+Sveje. The furniture collection explores the sustainable use of American cherry, maple and red oak, bringing pieces ranging from a dining table and bench to wall sconce lamps.

Global perspectives will continue through with Set Up Co. from Japan presenting a collaborative stand featuring plastering specialists Kakuhan and handcrafted furniture makers Reset. From France, mother–daughter duo Dorothée Giey and Pia Pijselman of Lux Temporis will bring their kinetic lighting designs and pieces that merge mechatronics and nature in an evocative fusion of art and engineering. The additions highlight how Design Mumbai is becoming a site for experimentation as much as commerce.

Furniture remains central to the event’s offerings. Natuzzi will present Mirai, a sofa collection by Andrea Steidl, a Milan-based designer who has collaborated with leading Italian furniture companies and is known for his research-driven approach to material and form. Inspired by the 13th century Federician castles of Puglia — its sculptural wooden frame and sloping armrests blend historic references with a contemporary form.

Swedish brands are also likely to take the spotlight. String Furniture — founded in 1949 by architects Nisse and Kajsa Strinning — will celebrate its String System, a modular shelving design that has become a Scandinavian design classic. Characterised by its lightweight wire supports and flexible components, its reconfigurable design responds to varied spatial needs. Elsewhere, Bla Station will return with a seating system that pushes forward ideas of adaptability and shared space.

Across the multifaceted programme, Indian design voices are anticipated to hold equal weight. Sabbi, an emerging Indian studio specialising in experimental materials and sustainable processes, presented by Surface and Design, introduces its micro-concrete furniture, where the concept of wabi-sabi translates into sustainable sculptural pieces. Racconti, a new high-end brand merging India’s craft heritage with Italian design, will unveil its Eterno collection, created by designers Luca Erba, Luca Tornaghi, Andrea Bonini, Michela Oliva and Adriano Castiglioni, who are renowned for their work in contemporary furniture design and cross-cultural collaborations. Meanwhile, Lila, a Bengaluru-based studio known for its inventive children’s furniture returns with its Morph Bed, an adaptable design whose form evolves as a child grows.

Textiles and surface innovation will have equally strong footing at Design Mumbai this year. FAZO Project, a Delhi-based studio known for merging traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design returns with chic rugs that marry traditional weaving with modern aesthetics. Marking its debut, Venjara Carpets will bring sustainable PET rugs from Bhadohi, a small village in Uttar Pradesh, India, known for its carpet weaving heritage, highlighting the country’s regional craft traditions. Threadarte, founded by designers Gunjan Arora and Rahul Jain, who focus on approaches to upcycling and material innovation, will transform waste into experimental textiles and installations, while Shaman Ideas, led by textile designer Sharmila Mangwani, will explore geometry through sculptural forms that push decorative arts into the spatial realm.

“Design Mumbai is committed to helping Indian brands gain visibility on an international stage. Through our global media partnerships and the international talks programme, Design Mumbai Exchange, we are channelling opportunities for Indian brands and studios to engage in discourse with designers and architects from Europe, Australia and the US,” Rudge, Suri and Dynan tell STIR.

Emerging talent is foregrounded with the debut Emerging Designers Pavilion, curated by stylist Jasmine Jhaveri. Her curation represents the new wave of Indian design practices, such as Studio Abrash, Wannas Design Atelier, Studio Klay and Trnkts3D, among others. Alongside, Istituto Marangoni returns with a showcase of five alumni, underscoring the role of education in shaping the design ecosystem.

A number of bespoke practices will also showcase their work. Karkhana hopes to present pieces conceived at the intersection of art and collectible design. Chacko, a bespoke furniture studio foregrounding local craftsmanship, will bring contemporary furniture to the fair. From Chandigarh, Sarvatva, founded by three women designers, will display handcrafted teak furniture made by artisans from the Indian city of Saharanpur. Textile designer and artist Varsha Patra, through her brand Hobo Houz, will show Sutrākha, a collection rooted in the intricate embroidery art of Aari, reimagined for contemporary living.

Returning exhibitors such as Stonelite, AKFD Studio, Rvardé, Shailesh Rajput Studio, FAZO Project and Lila and USM (with Cocre8) will help sustain the fair’s ongoing dialogue with an audience that values design, sustainability and craftsmanship. Established brands such as Loco Design will continue this conversation showcasing their signature furniture and lighting that blend innovation and craft. International exhibitors like Ceccotti, Poltrona Frau, Hästens, Infiniti, Vondom (with ABACA), as well as Light Forms Asia will reinforce the fair’s global reach.

The curatorial intent extends beyond designer booths. A highlight will be the Park Hotels Café, to be designed on-site by Spanish designer Lucas Muñoz Muñoz. Using repurposed materials from hotel refurbishments, Muñoz will create a temporary installation — illustrating a café and an installation — that interrogates material lifecycles. Extending this global dialogue, the Australian Institute of Architects will bring its annual conference to Mumbai for the first time, aligning with the fair to reinforce its international reach and the broader scope of its programming.

The Design Mumbai Exchange talk series will further deepen the conversation around contemporary design cultures and global collaborations. Discussing the intent of the programme, the co-founders add, “From re-imagining workplaces and coastlines to interrogating modern conceptions of hospitality and the workplace, Design Mumbai Exchange reflects the breadth and dynamism of the international design community from Jio World Garden in the heart of Mumbai, India’s cultural and creative capital. Some of the speakers we’re looking forward to catching are Vinu Daniel, the Principal Architect of Wallmakers and Lucas Muñoz Muñoz, the award-winning Spanish designer and creator of Design Mumbai’s café in collaboration with THE Park Hotels.”

With its second edition on the horizon, the fair is distinguished not by a single theme but by the diversity of design perspectives it hopes to bring into discussion. From experimental lighting and material innovations to education-driven showcases and cross-continental collaborations, the fair’s scope continues to expand. Rather than tying diverse voices into a single narrative, this year’s edition will foreground their differences, creating a temporary arena where design becomes a way of questioning, experimenting and imagining futures.

Design Mumbai 2025 will run from November 26 - 29, 2025, at the Jio World Garden in Mumbai, India.