J. M. Leathers

Shibpur is a very crowded and old part of the city. We are located at 33/2 A. K. Roy Choudhury Lane. The lane itself is so narrow that two cars can barely pass each other without hitting mirrors. It is an old neighborhood with a lot of history and character. Our building is tucked away behind some other houses, so you have to look closely for the small sign on the wooden door. Inside, the smell of leather is very strong and distinct. It is something you get used to after the first few minutes of being here. We have rolls of different hides stacked up against the walls in the back. The lighting is a bit dim, just a few fluorescent tubes hanging from the ceiling. We have a couple of old workbenches where all the cutting and measuring happens. Most of the tools we use are hand-operated and they show their age. We do not use a computer system for every little thing; we still write down most of the orders in a big blue ledger book. It is a very traditional way of doing things at J. M. Leathers. The neighbors are mostly families who have lived in Shibpur for generations. Sometimes the local kids play cricket right in the lane, and we have to watch out for the ball when we step out. We get our tea from a small shop at the end of the road.