Jai Shri Net Bags

We work out of No 55 Joseph Illam, which is located in a small lane called Lst Sandu in the Subramaniapuram part of Madurai. Jai Shri Net Bags is a simple operation. The building is an old one, and our space is filled with rolls of netting and different types of thread. There’s a specific sound the machines make—a steady clicking that goes on from morning until we close up at night. The air is usually filled with a bit of lint, so we have to sweep the floors twice a day to keep it manageable. Madurai is always warm, so we keep the windows wide open to get whatever breeze comes down the alley. It’s a bit cramped inside with all the finished bags piled up in the corners. We don’t have a fancy storefront; people usually just walk into the work area if they need something. Most of our days are spent cutting and stitching. We have a small table where we keep the ledger and a pot of water for anyone who is thirsty. Sometimes the neighborhood kids play cricket in the sandu outside, and we have to watch out for the ball coming through the door. It’s a local business through and through. We know the other shop owners on the street, and we often share tea in the afternoons. It’s just about getting the work done and making sure the bags are sturdy.