Angoora Silk Mills

Our mill is located at 53 Gayawadi Sadan, which is part of the 147/145 Vegas Estate on Kalbadevi Road. It’s an old part of the city, and the building reflects that history. Working with silk means we have to be careful with how we handle everything. The rooms are often filled with the sound of machinery and the sight of bright threads being wound and unwound. Kalbadevi Road is always crowded, so getting anything in or out of the Vegas Estate requires some patience and a bit of luck with the traffic. We’ve been in this spot for quite a while, and the walls are covered in the dust of many years of production. It’s a bit cramped inside because of all the looms and the rolls of fabric, but we make it work. Most of us here have been working with textiles our whole lives, so it’s second nature by now. We don't have a fancy reception area or anything like that. When people come by, they usually just walk right into the middle of the work. The smells of the dyes and the raw silk are part of the daily routine. We just focus on keeping the machines running and making sure the fabric comes out the way it’s supposed to. It’s a busy, noisy life in the heart of the estate. The light in the Vegas Estate is a bit dim, especially in the mornings, so we have bright bulbs over every loom. It’s a tight squeeze between the rolls of silk and the crates of thread. Sometimes we have to move three things just to get to one. It’s a bit of a puzzle every day. We drink a lot of tea to stay focused because the repetitive nature of the work can make your mind wander. Kalbadevi Road is always shouting outside our door, but in here, we just listen to the click-clack of the machinery. It’s a steady existence that hasn't changed much in the decades we've been here. We just want to finish the yardage and get it packed away.