Showcasing Indian Craftsmanship: Shakti Design Residency's Exhibition at Alcova 2025

Showcasing Indian Craftsmanship: Shakti Design Residency's Exhibition at Alcova 2025

In a groundbreaking initiative, Curio, led by its founder Shalini Misra, has launched the Shakti Design Residency. This unique programme brings together emerging designers from around the world with Indian artisans, aiming to foster collaboration and innovation in Indian craftsmanship.

The residency, which took place in India, serves as a bridge between global contemporary design and traditional Indian craftsmanship, providing a platform where both worlds converge. During the residency, designers work closely with artisans to create innovative products that reflect the fusion of modern design sensibilities and age-old crafting techniques.

Five emerging designers, including Helena Bajaj Larsen, Duyi Han, Aya Kawabata, Kickie Chudikova, and Luca Gruber, were selected for the residency and partnered with five respected ateliers in India. Each designer immersed themselves in their respective heritage crafts and India's history and culture, tasked with creating a new collection.

Larsen, an interdisciplinary textile designer, was paired with Jaipur Rugs for the Shakti Design Residency. Her series of rugs are an extension of her research relating to maps, veins, and roots, and were developed through hand drawing and extensive dye and embroidery tests.

Duyi Han, one of the designers, was paired with Tarun Tahiliani and created a collection inspired by India's wedding traditions, including a chandelier, a table lamp, and a chair/bench.

Kawabata, a Japanese designer, partnered with the Chanakya School of Craft for the Shakti Design Residency. Her embroidered wall hanging for Shakti reimagines Indian cultural symbolism and channels the energy of the sunrise, evoking purification, creativity, and boundless possibility.

Kickie Chudikova, another designer, was partnered with Klove Studio and created a collection inspired by Indian architecture, comprising five sculptural furniture and lighting pieces.

Luca Gruber, a designer with a background in luxury and craftsmanship, collaborated with Vikram Goyal for the Shakti Design Residency. Gruber's collection for Shakti, designed in collaboration with Goyal, is inspired by the spiritual philosophy of the seven chakras and features seven tabletops, each with a semi-precious stone inlay representing an energy center. The undulating brass legs of Gruber's tables mimic the vital energy channels that link the chakras.

The collections created by the designers will be produced in limited-edition runs and will be available for purchase on Curio Space and Basic Space. The results of this residency will be showcased at Alcova 2025 during Milan Design Week, offering a glimpse of what can be possible, fostering new collaborations, and shattering preconceptions.

The Shakti Design Residency represents a significant initiative to nurture and promote artisanal collaboration and cultural exchange in the global design community, highlighting India’s artisanal capabilities and design talent on the international stage.

1. The Shakti Design Residency, led by Shalini Misra, bridges the gap between global contemporary design and traditional Indian craftsmanship, fostering collaboration and innovation.
2. One designer, Duyi Han, was inspired by India's wedding traditions and partnered with Tarun Tahiliani to create a collection featuring a chandelier, a table lamp, and a chair/bench.
3. Cultural exchange in the global design community is highlighted through the Shakti Design Residency, as it showcases India’s artisanal capabilities and design talent on the international stage.
4. Lifestyle products from the Shakti Design Residency, such as furniture, lighting, and decorative items, will be available for purchase in limited-edition runs on Curio Space and Basic Space, offering a fusion of modern design sensibilities and age-old crafting techniques.

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