Prakash Leather Arts

If you ever find yourself on 90 Ft. Road in Dharavi, you’ll probably see the Sankalpna Building. We are up in units A/201 and 202. It’s always a bit of a climb, but that’s just how it is here. The smell of leather is the first thing you notice when you walk into our floor. It’s a strong, earthy smell that stays on your clothes long after you leave. We spend most of our hours surrounded by hides, tools, and the sound of the machines running. It gets pretty loud during the peak afternoon hours when everyone is working at once. Dharavi is a place that never really stops, and we are right in the middle of that energy. Our workspace isn't polished; it’s a working shop where things get dusty and scraps of material end up on the floor. We try to keep it organized, but when a big order comes in, the tables get covered pretty quickly. We’ve been at this for years, and the hands of the people working here show it. We don't have a fancy showroom. What you see is exactly what we are doing. We just focus on the material and making sure the cuts are right. It’s hard work and it’s sweaty, especially in the summer months when the fans just move the warm air around. But we like the routine of it and the people we work with every day.