Kalpesh Garments

We’re down at 41 Sherif Devji Street, which most people just call Chakla Street. Our place is on the ground floor of Parkar House in Masjid Bunder. If you’ve ever been to this part of Mumbai, you know it’s packed. There are carts and people everywhere, and it’s always a bit of a scramble to get anything done. Inside Kalpesh Garments, it’s just as crowded with bags and rolls of fabric. We’ve been here for years, and the shop is pretty much our second home. We handle a lot of wholesale stuff, so there’s always a lot of heavy lifting and moving things around. It’s dusty and loud, but it’s where we work. We don't have a big sign or any fancy decorations. People who need us usually know where to find us. We spend our days on the phone or talking to traders who come in from other parts of the city. It’s a lot of hard work and the hours can be long, especially during the festival seasons. We aren't doing anything fancy, just moving garments and making a living. It’s a tough area to work in, but there’s a lot of energy and we wouldn't know what to do with ourselves in a quiet office. The tea breaks on the sidewalk are probably the best part of the whole day.