12/02/2026
The Indian interior design industry appears to have become a mere showcase for Chinese furniture and lighting products.
Having personally explored China's furniture and lighting market nearly 15 years ago, I was impressed by their offerings but remained skeptical about their overall appeal. While China's products do exhibit good quality, driven primarily by industry standards rather than specific areas of excellence, their industry's success is largely policy-driven, aimed at accumulating foreign currency reserves. This strategic approach, initiated almost 40 years ago, has yielded significant results, whereas the Western world was caught off guard due to its overconfidence and lack of vision in governance. Europe, too, was content with the idea that cheaper goods would give them an edge, but they have fallen behind in terms of GDP growth ranking. Meanwhile, Africa seems to have awakened late to its potential. As someone closely associated with the furniture and lighting industry for the past 20-25 years, I am compelled to question why our society readily embraces Chinese products, particularly in these sectors. It is disheartening to see clients bring up China in discussions, not merely out of patriotism but due to our underestimation of our own potential. As an architect, I firmly believe that spaces can be designed to perfectly contextualize a project's architectural and interior needs. However, many projects follow a formulaic approach, adorned with Chinese furniture that often dilutes the project's essence. We are veering towards creating spaces that resemble display cases for Chinese furniture companies rather than showcasing the timeless craftsmanship and flair of Indian materials. When I refer to the 'Indian essence,' I mean the unique craftsmanship and materials that are quintessentially Indian. Despite their drawbacks, people take pride in owning Chinese furniture, which I find surprising, especially when those same individuals blame the government for lower GDP growth or unemployment. The irony is striking. A country with our vast talent and capacity should not rely so heavily on China for goods. While it may take time, and some compromises might be necessary, prioritizing our own choices would be more beneficial in the long run. In our recent projects, we have opted for Indian-made furniture, crafted by local artisans. I look forward to sharing my concerns about the industry in future writings.
Pankaj Gandhi, VH Design,
Climate-sensitive architecture, landscape, interior.
