Stylist Bag Shop

Our shop, Stylist Bag Shop, is at 115 on the 4th Main Road, right near Madina Masjid in Dharavi. Being near the mosque means we hear the calls to prayer throughout the day, which gives a nice rhythm to our work. We are on the 5th Cross. It’s a maze of lanes around here, and if you’re not from the area, it’s very easy to get lost. We have been making bags in this same spot for a long time. The shop is full of scrap material, thread, and half-finished projects. We don't have a big display window. Most of our bags are just hanging from metal hooks on the walls or piled on an old wooden table. It’s a dusty place because of the road right outside. We spend a lot of time cutting patterns and making sure the stitching is straight enough. My hands are always covered in thread bits and dust. We have an old kettle in the back where we make tea every few hours. It’s a family-run thing, really. My brother helps with the cutting, and I do most of the machine work myself. We aren't trying to compete with those big brands you see in the malls. We just make sturdy bags for local people who need them. It’s a simple business. We work when there is work to do, and we take it easy when things are slow. That’s just how life is for us in this part of Dharavi.