Graziella Shoes Ltd

We are up on the second floor of the MSDF building in Phase 2 of the MEPZ. That’s the Special Economic Zone out in Tambaram. Working in an SEZ means there’s a lot of security and rules, but it’s where we make our shoes. Graziella Shoes Ltd has been in this space for a bit, and it’s mostly a floor full of workbenches and leather scraps. You can smell the leather as soon as you step off the elevator. It’s a noisy place with the clicking of the machines, but we’re used to it. A fancy showroom isn't something you'll find here. It’s just a production floor where people are busy cutting soles and stitching uppers. Tambaram is a bit of a commute for some of us, but the facility here works well for what we do. The focus is always on the assembly line and making sure the shoes come out sturdy. There isn't much time for sitting around. Containers need to be filled, and deadlines keep us moving. It feels like a real factory environment, which it is. We don't try to make it look like something it’s not. It’s hard work, and your hands get dirty by the end of the shift. Producing footwear that holds up for a long time is the main thing. No big marketing teams here, just folks who know how to put a shoe together correctly and get it in a box. It’s just how we get through the week in Tambaram.