Pioneer Leather Crafts

George Town is one of the oldest parts of the city, and Buddi Sahib Street is as narrow as they come. We are up on the second floor at number 28/33. Pioneer Leather Crafts has been operating out of this space for a good while now. You can smell the leather as soon as you start coming up the stairs. It’s a heavy, earthy scent that stays with you even after you leave. The workspace is filled with rolls of hide, cutting tools, and benches that have seen a lot of use over the years. We don't have much in the way of air conditioning, just a couple of old fans that rattle a bit when they're on high. The light comes in through the small windows, but we mostly rely on the overhead tubes to see our stitches. It’s a crowded neighborhood, so there is always the sound of horns and people shouting down on the street. We just focus on what’s in front of us, cutting and joining the pieces together. It’s slow work sometimes because you can’t rush leather without making a mistake. We eat our lunch right at the benches most days, just clearing a small space for our tiffins. By evening, our hands are usually tired, but it feels good to see the finished items stacked up and ready to go for the customers.