This year, Mumbai’s offsite vertical of India’s best luxury design week took place, in the form of a design trail, amidst the famed creative-strewn alleys of the Shakti Mills compound. A unique Indian-inspired cocktail making masterclass at Masque kicked off the evening, followed by a collaborative display of stunning Italian furniture by G5A and Istituto Marangoni. This was followed by a showcase titled E-emerge by renowned artist Vinay Mehta at at Blue Loft that showcased two static handcrafted images in a single frame, that told a different story when viewed from various angles. Defurn, in association with Jaipur Rugs unveiled a stunning contemporary range of furnishings, and ABACA engaged the distinct expertise of six artists for an enthralling showcase that spanned clay work, photography and more. The night culminated with the celebration of the launch of a colour of the year and vibrant print collection by Freedom Tree.

One of the highlights of this celebratory night for the design fraternity was a unique craft showcase by Padma Bhushan winner, and one of South Asia’s most acclaimed creatives, Rajeev Sethi and the Asian Heritage Foundation, at Purvi Parikh’s leading decor store, Tranceforme.

A precursor to Jiyo—Made by a Million Hands’ Junoon event, where Mr. Sethi was one of the advocates for what village India can make and do for the world, Tranceforme hosted some distinctive artisanal creations. The beautifully curated display featured grass furniture, leather lamps, modular wall tiles, tribal papier mâché, silk and cotton couture, asymmetric needle work and earth totems that could be used as incense burners.

To top it all off, Mr. Sethi and his associates spoke about some atypical, but rather fascinating topics, such as slow fashion, forest foods, and conscious retail.