At THE WADE ASIA 2025, held from August 21 to 24 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, Kush Dhawan, Director, Clio, took the spotlight during the Material Review-Brand Presentation Series to introduce the company’s innovative approach to design and technology in material surfaces. Addressing the audience, Dhawan positioned Clio as a brand that acts as a bridge between imagination and realization. “Architects and builders build the building. Interiors give it colour. And Clio transforms their expectations into reality with a variety of products,” he said, by setting the stage for the presentation. Read more about the session on SURFACES REPORTER (SR).
Limitless designs
For Dhawan, design has always been about expansion, not limitation. “At Clio, we have always believed that design should never be limited by excess,” he said. This philosophy has guided the company’s journey, defined by its focus on accessibility, variety and the seamless integration of materials into creative execution.
Clio, one of India’s leading names in decorative surfaces, has made the finest quality materials available to Indian designers. “Our journey has been about bringing the world’s finest decorative materials closer to you,” Dhawan stated. He shared how the brand has curated an extensive portfolio to serve the needs of architects and furniture manufacturers. For everyday furniture applications, Clio offers India’s largest range of acrylic laminates, featuring over 200 designs in finishes such as metallic, matte, mirror, marble, wood and the newly introduced patented laser marble matte finish range. All Clio laminates are SGS-certified against NTL and anti-scratch standards, ensuring durability and performance.
Bridging creativity and technology
In addition to laminates, Clio’s strength also lies in decorative wall panels. “We deal in more than 500 SKUs for wall panels, available in different thicknesses and sizes,” Dhawan explained. The company’s exterior cladding materials, developed using German technology, come with a 15-year warranty, highlighting the brand’s focus on long-term reliability and quality. However, Dhawan’s presentation shifted focus toward what he called ‘the future of design products.’ After eight months of development, Clio introduced a breakthrough powered by artificial intelligence, an innovation that he said would redefine how designers work. “Today, I am here to talk about the future. A future where technology and creativity walk hand in hand,” he announced, unveiling CLA, Clio’s new AI-powered design support system.
Describing CLA as a revolutionary feature, Dhawan explained, “With CLA, architects and designers will be able to instantly download Clio materials, scan products from our catalogue, and integrate them directly into renders. The system will ensure exact material matching with our library, so the customer can visualize the precise finish that will be delivered.” The technology is designed to make workflows faster and smarter by eliminating delays that often slow down the design process. According to him, CLA is more than just a tool. “It’s a promise. A promise that creativity will never be slowed down by limitation. A promise that Clio will always be your partner in building spaces that inspire.”
Clio’s growth trajectory, Dhawan shared, is as impressive as its innovation. Within just two years, the brand has built a strong pan-India presence, supported by two main depots, operations in 15 states, and a network of over 30 distributors. This steady expansion underscores Clio’s commitment to making high-quality material solutions accessible to every designer across the country. Dhawan summed up his talk with optimism for the future. “This is just the beginning,” he said. “The road ahead is secure, promising and filled with innovation.”