J. D. Leathers

Working in the Leather Complex is different from a regular market. Everything is about the material and the smell here. J. D. Leathers is at No. 19. It smells like raw leather all day long, which you get used to after a few weeks. We have people coming in looking for hides and finished pieces to use. The floors are concrete and we have big wooden tables for laying everything out. It is a practical space for working. We do not have decorations or nice chairs for sitting. Usually, we are on our feet moving heavy rolls of skin around. The lights are bright so we can see any marks on the leather surface. Sometimes the machines nearby are loud, so we have to shout a bit to be heard. It is an industrial area, so there are not many places to eat nearby besides the small food stalls. We bring lunch from home most days. My brother handles the deliveries to the clients. We get shipments in and then we sort through them to see what is good. It is physical work and your hands get pretty dirty by the end of the shift. We just try to get the orders right and out the door on time. There is no secret to it, just showing up and doing the job. If you come to the complex, just look for number 19. We are usually there from early morning until the sun goes down. It is a steady life and we like it.