Faiz Tanning Co.

Poonappa Street in Purasawalkam is one of those places that feels like it hasn't changed in decades. We are at number 58, tucked away where the air is thick with the history of the area. Working at Faiz Tanning Co. is hard work, and it isn't always pleasant on the nose, but it is what we do. The floors are often wet, and we all wear heavy boots to keep our feet dry while we work through the hides. It’s a rhythmic kind of job. You get into a flow and the hours just pass by. The building is old, with high ceilings and walls that have absorbed the smells of the tanning process over many years. Outside, the street is narrow and always packed with people and carts. We have to be careful about when we schedule deliveries because a big truck can block the whole road and make the neighbors angry. There is a small tea shop on the corner where we all go to take a break from the fumes. We don't have any fancy marketing people or a big sales team. It’s just a handful of us who know the trade and show up every day to get our hands dirty. The fans overhead just move the warm air around, but we are used to it by now. It’s just life on Poonappa Street, and we’ve been here long enough that it feels like home.