Celebrating Global South Asian Design at London Design Festival

The London Design Festival 2026 is set to be a vibrant celebration of South Asian design, showcasing its evolution as a global movement. From September 15 to 17, the Design Intelligentsia exhibition at Shoreditch Town Hall will introduce a diverse array of contemporary design practices and innovative craftsmanship, reflecting a rich cultural heritage while looking towards the future.

Raw Collaborative, a design platform with roots in both India and the UK, marks its international debut with this exhibition. According to Fateh Singh Bhatia, the programme and curatorial lead, the showcase aims to transcend traditional interpretations of South Asian craft. 'For us, this is the shift from craft-intensive to design-intensive practices; where craft is not simply an aesthetic or a technique, but a way of thinking,' he explains.

Spotlighting Distinctive Studios

The exhibition features 25 unique studios, each contributing their own perspective on South Asian design. Among them is Baarique, led by Malika Budhiraj, which has dedicated the last decade to collaborating with artisans to produce exquisite handcrafted items. They will unveil new pieces that blend hand-embroidered Madhubani motifs with repoussé brass, presented on handcrafted Ahimsa silk.

Another participant, Ikai Asai, founded by entrepreneur Ananya Birla, emphasizes material-led storytelling, highlighting traditional crafts like papiér-mâché and Longpi pottery. Meanwhile, Khambatta, established by Ismet Khambatta, reinterprets India's woodworking traditions with modernist sensibilities, focusing on the natural beauty of materials.

Innovative Approaches to Craft

Artists like Arrti Mansinghka are also making waves, turning discarded textiles into evocative art pieces that speak to the concept of memory and transformation. Wicker Story, founded by architect Priyanka Narula, explores the potential of cane and rattan, merging traditional techniques with modern design methodologies. Finally, Berlin-based artist Latika Nehra presents hand-built ceramic forms that challenge the polished aesthetics of contemporary design, embracing rawness and imperfection.

Source: www.wallpaper.com