Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 14, 2013 News
Leather… leather what? Leather slipper, leather wallet, leather bag? The list can go on and on. As one manufacturer of leather products, Richard Singh, said about the material, “Belt, bags, wallets, you name it. Anything that the mind can conceive, it can make”.
“Leather crafting is one of the oldest trades around,” the tradesman said. Referring to his time spent in Trinidad, where he acquired a wealth of knowledge about the craft, Singh said that the people called footwear made from leather “Jesus sandals” since they existed even at the time when Jesus walked the earth.
Sadly, the tradesman expressed grief that the trade is a dying one. He is concerned that when the few who are in the field are gone, that might be it. He thinks that no one is interested enough in what he described as a “beautiful, beautiful trade” and where the possibilities are endless.
Not only can the products be made to align with the latest fashion trends, but they can also withstand the test of ‘wear and tear’ significantly better than products made from other materials.
Singh said that he is concerned about those who are “not making it academically, those who end up on the streets doing nothing.” He said that these are the persons that he is trying to reach with this trade in order for it to be preserved. “I do not want to die with my knowledge… It is a sin to die with your knowledge”.
Singh explained that the process of creating leather products is quite simple. The first step is to acquire the material itself. He spoke of the ‘tanning’ process where raw animal skin, referred to as ‘hide’; be it from cows, sheep or goats, is processed into leather. Skin from alligators and snakes can also be used. He said that the process takes about six weeks and entails ridding the raw skin of hair, pieces of flesh and fat. The end product resembles a flattened cardboard box but is more rigid.
The next step requires cutting the rigid material down to the size and shape of the product which the tradesperson is preparing to make. A ‘clicker press’ uses a mold to guide it when cutting the leather into the required shape. The mold would, most naturally, carry the identical shape of the piece of leather that had been cut. The designing stage comes next where handmade ‘stamps’, which carry intricate patterns, are pressed onto the leather surface to create an imprint.
Next, the product is stained into whatever colour is desired, be it pink, green, yellow or the three combined, using leather stains. Perhaps at this point, items such as belts are ready for the market. However, with footwear, the process continues where the rubber sole has to be pasted on and the edges sanded and stained to even out the colour, then it is polished.
“It is as simple as that,” the tradesman said. He said that the fact that he can work at home makes the job even more enjoyable. “Everything that I have, my vehicle, my house, everything; it’s my trade that gave it to me. I am even educating my son with it… And I am in my backyard working.”
Most of all, he benefits from a satisfactory turnover. He even said that at times the demand for his products is more than he can supply since almost every material that is utilised in the production process can be accessed locally.
The Rowley family is also one to benefit from the locally made artifacts. Lloyd Rowley, owner of a stall which markets primarily leather products, said that during the 60 years that he has been in the marketing business, he quickly identified leather products to be of great demand.
He said that he finds the quality of leather products to be much more durable than that of imported products made from other materials. The business man explained that he is one of the first persons that started the marketing of locally made leather products in Georgetown which has since been a success.
Currently, Rowley and his two sons are working to preserve the family business.
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