Boasting over a million visitors in its past editions in New Delhi, and regarded as one of the country’s best luxury design weeks, India Design ID hosts its first edition in Mumbai. World-renowned Indian and international icons are expected to come together to share new ideas, unravel design concepts, and engage in architectural conversations. Alongside exclusive showcases, stunning installations, and private events, the three-day gathering is also a great moment to take the pulse of the design industry and catch up with all the new engaging ideas that are shaping the way we inhabit our homes. A rich program of talks—the ID Symposium—will punctuate the fair, covering topics that encompass urban landscape, contemporary crafts, tastemaking, and collectible design. Some of these themes are very close to us, as we champion the preservation of artisanship and promote the cultural value and uniqueness of furniture pieces to be collected and cherished. Lily Frohelicher, Invisible Collection’s co-founder, will explore this topic in a panel discussion titled Design Cosmopolitanism with Tarini Jindal, Florence Louisy, and Ashiesh Shah, moderated by Ridhi Khosla Jalan. Exploring the nascent stage of collectible design in India and how it resonates with collecting practices across the globe, as well as the issue of limited editions and the recurring, as yet unresolved question: is it art or furniture? At Invisible Collection, we believe that design is art, and we curate our offering accordingly: each piece we handpick sits at the intersection of art, craftsmanship, and functionality, its relevance defined by both its aesthetic and cultural value.
More than rarity—a self-evident criterion in our practices as most of our designs are bespoke—it’s the way a specific piece reflects the cultural narrative and creativity of its time, besides embodying a lifetime of savoir faire and crafts techniques mastered by a handful of exceptional artisans. For Invisible Collection, it’s an honor to be sharing this passion precisely in India, a country that champions karigari—the highest form of craftsmanship and traditional techniques passed down through generations. This high-level expertise is something we’ve become familiar with by working closely with Ashiesh Shah, an AD 100 honoree and one of the most talented Indian designers of his generation, whose unique creations are available through us. Lesage Intérieurs, too, has a long history of collaborating with Indian ateliers. The specialty creator from Chanel’s Maisons d’art pour la mode et pour la décoration has long been incorporating intricate handiwork such as embroidery, beading, and other traditional techniques that are the hallmark of Indian decorative arts, into their designs. Alongside the bespoke creations of Lesage Intérieurs, we present Gardens of the World, a capsule collection of rugs designed by Tatiana de Nicolay in collaboration with Jaipur Rugs, a family-owned Indian company with a proud history of promoting and preserving traditional craftsmanship.
