The central highlight of the show is the contemporary interpretation of “Lal Dera” inspired by the original Lal Dera that lies with the Mehrangarh Museum Trust in Jodhpur

AD Design Show’s fourth edition ended its second day. Over the three days, AD India curates a diverse program speaking to various interests in the field of design and aesthetics.

Day two kicked off with the ADxJSW Prize for Contemporary Craftsmanship’s award ceremony where Kolkata-based Mahua Lahiri of Hushnohana won. This year, as the prize turned five, the jury awarded The Lifetime Achievement Award to Brigitte Singh of Jaipur for her life’s work in block printing. Sabyasachi Mukherjee joined Komal Sharma, for an insightful conversation on taking Indian design to the rest of the world. Architect Sameep Padora gave audiences an insight into the contemporary iteration of the “Lal Dera”. 

This was followed by a presentation by curator, writer and textile expert, Mayank Mansingh Kaul who elaborated on the history of textile architecture in shrines, courts, and bazaars. This was followed by Asaf Ali of Kashmir Loom and Maximiliano Modesti who talked about their individual journeys in craftsmanship, while architects Samuel Barclay and Palinda Kannangara from Sri Lanka showcased their projects that spoke of design that is in alignment with nature. Day two ended with fashion designer Rajesh Pratap Singh, creative director of the fashion house Satya Paul hosting a cocktail party at the AD Lounge.

The central highlight of the show is the contemporary interpretation of “Lal Dera”. The AD team took inspiration from the original Lal Dera that lies with the Mehrangarh Museum Trust in Jodhpur, crafted out of red silk and velvet, and heavily embroidered with gold thread. AD invited sP+a’s Sameep Padora to reimagine this textile architecture, which will also form an intimate space for talks and sessions. Inside the “Lal Dera” features a hand-knotted rug crafted by Jaipur Rugs with intricate all-over floral motifs, resembling lush gardens in full bloom along with flooring courtesy of Symphony International.

The Power to the Karigar Pavillion powered by JSW makes a grand return this year with seven karigars from across the country. The Karigars featured are Gudari Making by Kalbelia Craft Revival Project x Kota Heritage Society - Kota, Rajasthan; Contemporary Miniature Art by Riyazuddin x Kaash - Jaipur, Rajasthan; Nakshi Kantha by Mahua Lahiri x Hushnohana - Kolkata, West Bengal; Embroidery by Ravi Dhanabal x Julia & Sita - Chennai, Tamil Nadu; Art of Weaving by Thiyagarajan X Neytt – Kerala; Natural Fibre Futures by Mahadevamma x The Kishkinda Trust – Karnataka; and Kathkuni by Thakar Chand x North Studio - Himachal Pradesh.

Additional installations at the show include Sarnath and Tree of Life, designed at Good Earth and created by artisans in Bhuj and Benares. Inspired by the travelling traditions of nomadic communities, and the vibrant exchange of ideas and crafts, the quilts represent a shared South Asian tradition of extraordinary textiles. 

Sanjay Garg’s Raw Mango will be displaying a museum-style glass cabinet showcasing garments from the collection ‘AGAMA’. A grand Olive tree in an autumn glow of warm copper by Alex Davis Studio. CMYK presents a custom-built book pavilion that showcases a curated collection of luxury books, featuring a collection of luxury books sourced from the finest publishers globally. Wittman by Beyond&more’s installation at the show, features The Kubus Armchair: A Josef Hoffmann Masterpiece (1910), Vuelta Armchair: A Fusion of Artistry by Jaime Hayon (2016) and Tuky Side Table: Luca Nichetto's Modern Craftsmanship (2022). KMA’s series of landscape collectibles reflects its respect for nature and innate sensitivity to ecology.