Arya Lalu is a self‑taught designer working at the intersection of craft and furniture, shaping home decor where wood is both structure and story. Her brand Lallu crafts brings together regional craft traditions of south India with contemporary furniture forms, resulting in pieces that feel rooted yet modern. Her design language treats heritage techniques as design partners rather than embellishments. Kerala’s hand-painted leather shadow puppets, traditionally used in Tholpavakoothu performances are reframed as wall pieces, their intricate lines preserved rather than reproduced. Athangudi tiles, usually laid underfoot in old Chettinad homes, reappear as inlays on mirrors and furniture. Teak bed frames and wardrobes carry rattan panels and joinery that make the grain of the wood part of the story, not just its surface.
In this conversation, As part of Abir Pothi’s DTalks, Arya Lalu talks about the artisans she collaborates with, why she believes “the future is handmade,” and the uphill task of getting people to value craft in a market that often doesn’t.
Q. You are a self taught designer. How was that journey like?
Arya Lalu: Lallu Crafts was born from my love for furniture, design, and the beauty of our traditions.
When we started building our new home, I found myself deeply involved in every little detail of the furniture and interiors. What began as simply researching furniture designs slowly turned into a passion. I travelled to different places, explored traditional homes, looked for unique furniture ideas, and tried to understand how old-world craftsmanship could be brought into a modern home.
One journey that stayed with me was my visit to Athangudi. Walking through the village, visiting the beautiful Athangudi Palace, and exploring the antique markets opened up a whole new world for me. I fell in love with the character, craftsmanship, woodwork, details, and stories behind traditional furniture.
I started bringing those inspirations into our own home, designing pieces that combined the richness of traditional Indian furniture with the simplicity and functionality of contemporary design. Slowly, our home became a reflection of everything I loved about furniture and design.
Once the house was completed, the compliments we received about the furniture gave me a completely unexpected confidence. People loved how the pieces blended tradition and contemporary design, and many of them appreciated the thought and uniqueness behind each piece. That made me wonder, maybe there are more people out there who have the same love for furniture that I do. Maybe there are people who want traditional craftsmanship, but in a way that fits beautifully into a contemporary home. And that thought became the beginning of Lallu Crafts.
What started as a personal search for furniture for my own home slowly became a dream to create furniture for others, pieces that carry the warmth of tradition, the beauty of craftsmanship, and the comfort of contemporary living. And that’s how Lallu Crafts was born.
Q. How would you describe your signature design aesthetic, and how has it evolved while working in India?
Arya Lalu: Traditional craft with a contemporary twist. My design language is shaped by Indian sensibilities and traditions, especially those of Kerala and South India. Our furniture line, which includes bed frames, wardrobes, and storage units is built in premium teak and enriched with craft details: panels of rattan, inlays of Athangudi tiles, and carefully considered joinery that highlights the grain and warmth of the wood. As a self-taught designer, I have developed a distinct language that treats craft as a structural and conceptual partner to furniture, positioning my work within a growing movement of Indian makers who blend heritage techniques with contemporary living.
Morrocan mirror
Q. What influences and inspires your current work? Could you share some movements, designers, or elements of Indian culture that have shaped your practice?
Arya Lalu: The craft traditions of South India, especially handmade tiles and woodwork. Kerala is known for its intricate woodwork, but with the advent of technology and changing markets, the number of skilled artisans is shrinking. That’s why we need to do more to keep these traditions alive.
Q. Could you walk us through your creative process? How do you move from initial concept to final execution?
Arya Lalu: When I get an idea, I sketch it and then we start making prototypes to test feasibility. We iterate again and again, refining the design until it feels right. Collaborating with artisans is an integral part of this process.
Q. Your work often involves collaborations with artisans and other creatives. What draws you to these partnerships, and how do these collaborations enrich your design practice?
Arya Lalu: It’s a relationship based on respect. Collaborating and working together to realise a design is both challenging and rewarding. The artisan brings knowledge accumulated over generations, which the designer can learn from and build upon.
Q. Looking back at your portfolio, which project represents a significant turning point in your career, and among your recent works, what project are you most proud of and why?
Arya Lalu: A signature product of Lallu Crafts is the framed leather puppet from Kerala, reimagined as a decorative wall object: the delicate, hand‑painted goat‑leather figures of Tholpavakoothu are preserved in a frame so their intricate lines and narrative presence become a focal point in a room. I spent a lot of time developing the idea and executing it with the artisans. The final product was so strong that it really showed me the feasibility of innovation through craft. Alongside this, our designs include wood‑framed mirrors inlaid or bordered with Athangudi tiles, translating the bold geometric patterns of Chettinad cement tiles into refined furniture surfaces.
Q. What unique challenges and opportunities have you encountered as an emerging designer in the Indian design industry, and how are you working to overcome these obstacles?
Arya Lalu: People often don’t value craft, so it’s difficult to convey its true worth. That’s one of the biggest challenges I face.
Q. How do you approach sustainability and eco-friendly practices in your designs, particularly considering India’s traditional wisdom and contemporary environmental challenges?
Arya Lalu: Sustainability is central to my creative philosophy. Indian communities have been practising sustainability for generations, long before it became a buzzword. By incorporating traditional craftsmanship and offering customisation, we design pieces that stand the test of time. We also specialise in updating old furniture with a contemporary design language so it can become a family heirloom of sorts.
Q. What’s your most exciting recent design or art discovery that’s influencing your current thinking?
Arya Lalu: The versatility of wood, and how seemingly different craft traditions can come together through wood to transform an entire space. The future is handmade.
Q. How do you build visibility and reach out to potential clients – what platforms and strategies have worked best for you?
Arya Lalu: Instagram and word of mouth.
Q. As you look ahead, what kind of projects or directions would you like to explore?
Arya Lalu: I want to explore how we can translate South India’s craft traditions into updated versions suitable for the contemporary market—work that supports artisans while also preserving our unique culture. Just as we did with leather puppetry, there are many native craft traditions that could find a place in contemporary homes, but they need innovation in design.
Q. For aspiring designers looking to make their mark in India’s design landscape, what wisdom would you share from your journey?
Arya Lalu: Be patient, and always be open to learning.
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
