Irwin Leathers

Irwin Leathers is tucked away at No. 14/42 on Kattur Sadayappan Street. We are on the first floor. It’s a busy little street and you might miss the entrance if you aren't looking for it. We work with leather all day. It’s a tough material, so you need the right tools and a bit of strength to get it right. We don't do mass production like those huge companies you see. We just take it piece by piece. There’s usually leather scraps all over the floor by the end of the day. The smell of the tanning and the glue is something you get used to after a week. My father used to do this kind of work, and now I’m here doing it too. We have a couple of guys who are really good with the heavy-duty sewing machines. It’s not easy work, and your hands get pretty rough from handling the hides. We don't have a website or anything like that. People just come to Kattur Sadayappan Street when they need leather goods that are made properly. Sometimes we get special requests for certain sizes or styles, and we just do our best to follow the instructions. The lighting in the shop isn't great, but we have lamps over the work areas. It’s just a honest way to make a living. We’ve been in this building for years and know all the neighbors.