From Everest Waste to Smart Fashion, Young Designers Put Innovation on Display

New Delhi: Innovation took centre stage at the MIW Design Show 2026 that displayed indigenous marine surveillance drones, garments designed to aid children with disabilities, as well as fashion created using recycled waste collected from Mount Everest.The second edition of Made in WUD (MIW) Design Show, which opened on Thursday, brought together a host of promising young designers and creators at the Visual Arts Gallery at India Habitat Centre.The exhibition offers a glimpse into how the next generation of designers is blending sustainability, technology and social impact through inventive, real-world solutions.The showcase features 60 standout graduation projects selected from more than 319 students’ works presented during MIW Week on the World University of Design (WUD) campus.The display spans fashion and textile design, product design, transportation design, architecture, interior architecture, communication design, UI/UX, animation, digital media, visual and performing arts, and business.“This show represents the future of creative education, where disciplines intersect, industry engagement is central, and students are encouraged to think beyond traditional boundaries. It reflects how young creative professionals are responding to real-world challenges with innovation, cultural sensitivity and interdisciplinary thinking,” said Sanjay Gupta, vice-chancellor of World University of Design.Among the projects on display was Palkin Kaushik’s collection that focused on cognitive and sensory learning for children, particularly those with special needs. The garments incorporated interactive elements such as textured surfaces, flaps and hidden details to encourage touch and engagement. “The detachable flaps on one garment can be pulled out and used as finger puppets,” she said, explaining how the clothing was meant to turn learning into a tactile experience.Ideas of sustainability could be seen throughout the exhibition. Designer Gauri Sarkar had experimented with upcycled plastic waste from Mount Everest and the nearby Himalayan region to create products such as table clocks and bathroom accessories. Her aim, she said, was to challenge the perception that recycled plastic products are inherently of low quality. “The focus was to create visually appealing products that can one day be used in luxury hotels,” she said.Technology-driven innovation found space in the work of Ajayce, who developed an indigenous marine-surveillance drone. He pointed out that surveillance drones currently used are largely imported. “This is the first indigenous drone of this kind,” he said.Fashion collections at the show also drew heavily from cultural and environmental narratives. Anjani Tiwari’s designs were inspired by Himalayan architecture, featuring layered constructions, eco-printing and patchwork techniques. Indigo crack prints created using invasive congress grass symbolised the scars left by development, placing ideas of home, ecology and damage within the same garment.Another collection reinterpreting heritage was Nishita’s line inspired by Mughal architectural motifs. Pointing to a black jacket embroidered with gold detailing, she explained that she first hand-drew the design before it was translated into embroidery. “It takes about a month, including the fabric sourcing time, to complete one piece,” she said.The exhibition also featured projects that merged branding, art and storytelling. Swapnil Patel’s “The Cow Project” reimagined cow sculptures through diverse Indian art and craft traditions, with each piece reflecting a different regional style.