There is something incongruous about the whole set-up.

A sleepy hamlet, around 7 km drive from New Delhi, where you would occasionally spot cows grazing or regurgitating their food, is home to a studio, a studio which could help in positioning India on the global map of design or, at the expense of sounding a little altruistic, a place in design history books.

Wrap, a furniture design studio, founded by Gunjan Gupta is a workshop where modern ideas and ancient tradition meet, goes through the crucible of originality and innovation, giving birth to a contemporary vision. And the narrative of her design philosophy is captured in a collection of 15 cutting-edge pieces, which will be exhibited at the Milan Furniture Fair this year?the prestigious Mecca of design.

Continuing her mission to include Indian craft into discussions about contemporary design around the world, Gunjan?s collection will show the country?s craftsmanship at its best. ?We need to restore our dying traditional crafts and position them in relevance to our times. Therefore, for the Milan collection, we will present a refined contextualisation of Indian craft traditions in a simpler and more affordable format,? says the 37-year-old designer.

The story behind the fruition of her design philosophy was written when she moved to Delhi after marriage. A Mumbaikar, who worked as an interior designer for eight years, Delhi put her ?in touch with the cultural aspect of India.? Before she reached her epiphany, she enrolled at the prestigious St Martin?s College of Art and Design, London. Armed with strong roots in Indian craftsmanship and an education in the UK, Gunjan developed a style which brought her rave reviews in the domestic market as well as recognition in the international scene. Her bespoke conversation piece, Dining Throne, which she first exhibited at London?s 100% Design show in September 2006, marries an ancient throne decoration technique with modern sensibilities, wherein the seats and stools are wrapped in silver and 24-carat gold-leaf. After gaining international credibility, which she says has been the real catalyst behind her work, Gunjan established her design studio in 2006. And the rest, as they say, is history.

An active advocate of sustaining Indian crafts, Gunjan through her shows and exhibits on the global platform has also made a considerable effort in repositioning the brand ?Made in India??a phrase that has been associated with cheap and cheerful wares. And she aims to continue her endeavour at Milan, the gateway to international reputation, where a prototype could be snapped up for production, thereby sealing its fate as an iconic piece.

Wrap will showcase their pieces within the new design district of Venture Lambrate in the company of international designers like Jamie Hayon and Lee Broom. Gunjan Gupta?s debut show at Milan will be curated by Subhas Kim Kandasamy.

Multi-leg dining table

Made of wood and crystal, the legs of this dining table come silver-wrapped or 24-karat gold leaf wrapped. The gold leaf is sourced from Jaipur, the silver wrapping from Udaipur and the glass crystal from Ferozabad.

Eastern recline

Inspired by Indian wedding chairs, the Eastern Recline is a blend of east and the west. It is made of teak wood and upholstered with a padded silk cushion.

Deconstructed eastern recline

An affordable offshoot of the Eastern Recline.

Dining throne

First launched at 100% Design, London in 2006, the dining throne exemplifies the brand?s vision. Based on traditional Indian chairs, they?re decorated with gold and silver leaf and have garnered numerous critical reviews.

Deconstructed dining throne

An offshoot of the Dining throne, this piece comes under a more affordable range. The seats of the chairs also depict the waxing and waning of the moon in silver and golden foil.

Bori throne and gadda throne

Inspired by the cycle wallahs, this conceptual piece was put together at a local cycle repair shop. The parts used in the design are actual spare parts of a cycle. These sculptural thrones have been widely exhibited internationally. The old bicycle seats are upholstered to the seat of the throne and padded silk cushions and bori serve as the back rest.

Dinner Stacks

The traditional Indian thaali takes on a contemporary look while retaining its culinary heritage, a melange of rural and urban aesthetics. Made of silver and gold plated brass, pure silver or pure gold, this dinnerware began as a project for a Janice Blackburn-curated show at Sotheby?s London in 2009.

Rock cluster tables

These geometrically-shaped tables are encrusted with precious stones. They are made of wood and coated with veneer.