MAM
Swedish design stars shine brightly at Design Mumbai 2025
MUMBAI: Design Mumbai 2025 has opened to a full house of global tastemakers, and three Swedish names are stealing a noticeable share of the spotlight. String Furniture, Hästens Beds and Blå Station have arrived with their signature blend of simplicity, craftsmanship and quiet sophistication, drawing crowds from India’s ever-growing community of design-hungry consumers.
Design Mumbai has become a fixture on the international design calendar, bringing together architects, interior specialists and brands from across the world. With Mumbai’s expanding middle class seeking sustainable, functional and aesthetically refined products, Swedish design finds itself in an ideal position to flourish in the city.
“Swedish design stands for more than form. It is rooted in sustainability, quality and innovation. These are values increasingly sought by Mumbai’s growing middle class. Swedish companies are not only exporting products but also ideas about what future homes and workplaces can be,” said Sweden (Mumbai) consul general Sven Östberg. He inaugurated String Furniture’s pavilion, where the brand’s iconic modular shelving met lively interest from Indian visitors, before exploring Hästens’ handcrafted luxury beds and Blå Station’s playful yet minimalist seating.
Speaking about Hästens’ presence in India, Hästens Beds India general manager Mats Joseph Fernandes, said the brand is finding a receptive audience. “Today’s luxury consumer seeks authenticity, purity of materials and a lifestyle of refined taste. At Hästens, true luxury lies in craftsmanship and rare natural materials. These beds are not just designed for comfort, they are masterpieces of heritage. India’s evolving luxury landscape is welcoming brands with legacy and purpose.”
Mumbai’s position as a city of over 20 million residents, many of them young professionals and entrepreneurs, makes it a strategic launchpad for Swedish design. Demand for premium furniture and interiors continues to climb as more consumers seek global standards for their homes and workspaces.
String Furniture CEO Jonas Wetterlöf, said the response has been encouraging. “String Furniture, designed in 1949, is known for its ingenious simplicity and adaptability, making it ideal for India’s dynamic urban lifestyle. Our systems are customisable, multi-functional and built to last. The enthusiasm at Design Mumbai 2025 has been remarkable.”
String Furniture is also marking a milestone year with the unveiling of Pira G2, a modern take on the seven-decade-old Pira floor-to-ceiling shelving system. The new edition blends architectural elegance with everyday practicality, catering to contemporary Indian homes.
Together, the Swedish exhibitors illustrate how closely Scandinavian values align with India’s evolving design aspirations. For consumers who prioritise long-lasting quality, thoughtful craft and a modern aesthetic, the Swedish showcase offers a refreshing alternative to mass-produced décor.
MAM
Time brings TIME100 Next franchise to India with Reliance
List to spotlight 100 emerging leaders, gala set for December 2026 in Mumbai.
MUMBAI: It’s about time India’s next wave got a global spotlight and now, it’s on the list. New York-headquartered Time is expanding its TIME100 Next franchise to India, partnering with Reliance Industries Limited to launch TIME100 Next India, its first international extension of the rising leaders platform. The announcement was made at the Time100 Gala in New York by Jessica Sibley and Nita Mukesh Ambani, signalling a strategic push to tap into India’s growing influence across sectors.
The India edition will recognise 100 emerging leaders from the country and the global Indian diaspora, spanning business, science, sports, arts and social impact. The list will be curated by Time’s editorial team and published online, continuing the franchise’s focus on identifying individuals shaping the future.
The initiative will culminate in a gala event scheduled for December 2026 at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, anchoring the platform within India’s cultural and business ecosystem.
TIME’s broader Time100 franchise has steadily expanded its global footprint since 2021 through events and impact-led initiatives. Executives noted that India’s growing pool of influential voices and innovators made it a natural next step for the platform’s international ambitions.
For Reliance, the partnership aligns with its broader push to support emerging talent and ideas on a global stage. For Time, it marks a timely bet on India not just as a market, but as a talent engine shaping the next chapter of global leadership.
