Tetsnrai Garment

Our place is tucked away in Phase 2 of the Okhala Industrial Area. It’s at E47/6, which can be a little tricky to find if you aren't familiar with the blocks around here. It is mostly factories and warehouses in this part of town. Tetsnrai Garment operates out of a space that feels very much like its surroundings—functional and a bit grey. We have machines running most of the day, so there is always a steady hum in the background. It’s not the kind of place where you’ll find plush carpets or fancy decor. We have stacks of fabric sitting in the corners and thread reels everywhere. Sometimes the power goes out and we just sit and wait for the generator to kick in. The staff here has been together for a long time. We know each other’s habits. We eat lunch together near the back window where there is a bit of a breeze. Dealing with the heat in the summer is probably the hardest part of working in Okhala. We keep the fans going at full speed. People come by for pick-ups throughout the week. It’s a lot of manual work, moving rolls of cloth and checking seams under the lamps. We don't really do much advertising. Most of our work comes from people who already know where we are. It’s just a straightforward garment setup. We show up, do the stitching, and head home when the sun goes down.