Rang Bandhej Pvt. Ltd.

Our unit is C-1 in the Chinai Baug Estate, which is located right near the Dudheshwar Water Works. Being in Dudheshwar means we are in an older part of the city where a lot of traditional work still happens. We specialize in bandhej and other dyeing techniques. The workspace is usually damp because of all the water we use in the vats. There are long lines of rope stretched across the ceiling where we hang the cloth to dry after it has been colored. The smell of the dyes is very strong, but after working here for so long, you don't even notice it anymore. We have a group of workers who have been with us for a long time and they know exactly how to tie the knots to get the right patterns. It is a slow process and you can't really rush it if you want the colors to come out right. Sometimes the weather affects how the fabric dries, so we are always checking the sky for rain. We don't have a corporate office; we mostly just work on the shop floor alongside everyone else. It is a lot of manual labor, dipping the heavy cloth into the hot dye and then rinsing it out. By the end of the day, everyone’s hands are stained blue or red. We keep a small radio on the shelf to listen to music while we work.