The IHGF Delhi Autumn Fair has closed its doors for another year, after welcoming thousands of visitors from around the world who came for the exquisite textiles, rugs and cushions, wooden furniture, lighting, and fashion and accessories.
Here are our top picks.
Lighting
The fair was held a week before Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, which was fitting considering the number of lamps and lighting products on display. We loved discovering these paper stars, each with carefully cut out patterns, which do particularly well in Scandinavia. The rustic, handmade rattan lampshades were another highlight.
Wood
You can find a huge range of wooden items at the Delhi fair, from tables and chairs to cupboards with detailed inlays. We also spotted a lot of wooden tableware, like this Japanese-inspired range with blue patterned accents.
North East Region
The fair organiser, the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, is focused on promoting the north east region (NER) of India as a hub for handicrafts, something Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also passionate about.
To aid in this, the Delhi fair included a pavilion dedicated to NER handicrafts, with information about how and where the products are made.
The stands
Many exhibitors at the Delhi fair go all out with their stands. Think two-storey constructions, comfortable couches, and elaborate facades. There’s always something to look at around every corner, which keeps things interesting.
Textiles
India is known for its high-quality textiles, so it is no surprise that the fair was full of them. You can find everything from rugs to cushions, bedding and table linen in both traditional and modern designs.
On trend
Although many items at the fair are made using traditional Indian techniques, there are exhibitors creating products that wouldn’t look out of place at Maison&Objet or Ambiente. These concrete planters were part of a larger range of pastel concrete homewares.
The chai
As this cup suggests, India runs on chai. Hot tip for future IHGF Delhi fair visitors: there’s nothing better than sitting down after a few hours walking the fair and having a delicious, sweet, milky tea.
By Ruth Cooper
