Aruvacode

Aruvacode is a small village near Nilambur, that is famous for its fine pottery skills. Members of the Kumbharan community here have been engaged in making and selling pottery for generations. However, globalization and the influx of plastic utensils have eroded their market. 

In a bid to revive the tradition of pottery-making, activist-designer K. B. Jinan took matters into his own hands and started the Kumbham Handicraft Project with the help of the potters of the village. Jinan realized the need for the potters to make a niche for themselves in the competitive market. As part of the project, the work of the potters was redefined and that has paved the way for a comeback. Today, the potters of Aruvacode make over 500 unique designs for garden furniture, landscape products, household wares, murals and architectural accessories. They have also designed and produced beautiful and innovative products by experimenting with terracotta. 

The Kumbham village and the project have thus emerged as a fine example of how traditional artistic skills can be redefined to overcome the challenges of globalization.