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DHARAVI-MUMBAI

As ladies are synonymous with shopping so is Dharavi in Mumbai almost synonymous with leather handbags. There are more than 150 shops in Dharavi which deal with many leather related products. Dharavi is also quite popular for it is supposed to be Asia's largest "slum", home to nearly a million people but of course now the conditions have changed very much for the better. Dharavi houses more 5,000 leather workshops which are exported across the globe.

Dharavi is a very busy area full of activities which supports to a great extent the economy of the state by making business worth US $500 million, with lot of rags to riches stories. This place existed right from the time of Bombay. Initially Dharavi was mainly occupied by the fisher folk who were called as Kolis and they came in from the creek of the Arabian Sea. The drying of the creek was due to a dam named Sion closed to Dharavi. Dharavi's fisher folk were deprived of their traditional sustenance, and the newly emerged land from the marshes provided space for new communities to move in.

People from Konkan coast and Gujarat slowly migrated into the lands of Dharavi. They were slowly followed by the Kumharwada who belonged to the potter's community from Saurashtra. Many people also from the city of Bombay moved into Dharavi to start trade related leather products. Lot of leather tanneries were set up in Dharavi by the Muslim tanners from Tamil Nadu. This is how the eather tanning industry came up in Dharavi with more number of shops in this area selling leather and leather related products, especially the hand bags from Dharavi are very renowned across the globe.

Dharavi Also Houses Lot of Shops Dealing with Textiles

Dharavi also houses lot of shops dealing with textiles more specifically the embroidery work by the artisans from Uttar Pradesh. Once there were lot of shops established in Dharavi it paved way for number of other businesses like making of savories and sweets. It was during the British colonial era in 1880's that the Dharavi slum was recognized and it mainly grew prominently because of the expansion of factories and residents from peninsular city center by colonial government, and from rural poor migrating into urban Mumbai. The population of Dharavi alone now estimated to about more than 1 million people is featured by a multi-religious, multi-ethnic and diverse settlement.

The residents of the Dharavi slum are involved in the export of leather, textiles and pottery products which are exported to different parts of the world. As mentioned earlier the total annual turnover has been estimated to about US$500 million. Dharavi sprawls into a major area of about 535 acres. Dharavi can be termed as one of the most potential market of both Mumbai and for the country as well. Like any other industries the leather industries in Dharavi also sees its ups and downs. The leather industries here are supposed to be very busy during the winter season.

Sales of the Leather Products by the Local Stores:

But however the industry be, the sales of the leather products by the local stores keeps continuously getting to reinvent their leather items. The shopping markets at Dharavi give a wide choice of handbags made of rexin - a water resistant form of imitation leather - selling like hot cakes for even less than 200 Rs. Dharavi though known more to the public after the Oscar-winning movie "Slum dog millionaire" was made, people from different parts of the world were acquainted to the name Dharavi for it is the biggest slum of Asia spread over parts of the Sion, Bandra, Kurla and Kalina suburbs of Mumbai.

But not many people known about the excellent business of leather hand bag business and industries which is happening along its borders by the residents of the Dharavi slum. Apart from the leather hand bags, Dharavi is also very famous for its leather goods like belts and jackets. The hand bags produced at Dharavi are of original leather from the tanned skin of sheep, buffalo and cow. They are designed according to the latest trend in varying colors and shapes attracting the various classes of people and catering to the needs of the different groups. The natives of not only Mumbai but any new tourists inclusive of the foreigners who come to Mumbai will never miss the shopping trip to Dharavi to buy a hand bag for the loved ones.

Mahadani Leather Store in Dharavi

Some of the other leather items which are manufactured and sold by the industries in Dharavi are jackets, belts and wallets. The jacket manufactured here is exported to different parts of the world. The link or the chain between the supplier and the customer are relatively much shorter than in any other industry for most of the retailers who have their shop at Dharavi are sure to have their own manufacturing units where the production costs are quite low for the goods are mainly produced in-house itself. One of the most popular leather stores in Dharavi is the Mahadani Leather Plus whose factory is situated just on the other side of the street opposite to the shop. Because of the absence of middleman between the seller and the buyer the shop owners are able to make a fair or a decent profit.

Bags Sold at Dharavi are at wholesale price

The bags sold at Dharavi stores are mainly at the wholesale bulk prices. A decent hand bag which is sold at a cost of 900 rupees in shops in Dharavi will easily cost 200- 300 Rs more than what is sold in the wholesale market at Dharavi. Prices that seem even more remarkable, given that the quality of the bags is at the same standard one would expect to find in any other genuine leather market in India. Even the hand bags, pouches and wallets which are manufactured for the export purpose are also very reasonably priced. The shops at Dharavi will be always crowded by the tourists, college goers and the teens of the city who can afford their small share to buy the trendiest purses and hand bags.

The best collection of the leather bags, wallets and purses and other related leather products are got from Aman Leather Emporium which gives the buyers a wide choice of both colors and designs in varying eye catching shapes.Any new comer to the city who comes to Dharavi to see Asia's biggest slum will be surprised and taken aback to see the latest hand bags style sold at Dharavi market and the thriving brisk business happening here. The bustling streets of shopping markets in the Dharavi slum is mind blogging for even the natives of Mumbai. Like any other market, bargaining also works wonder in the shops at Dharavi.

Big Companies Buy These Leather Related Bags and Handbags

A native of Mumbai who knows the market will prove him or herself to get the right price by bargaining, whereas a tourist visiting here for the first time might get easily cheated. So gear up yourself and learn the technique of bargaining before entering the market. Also Dharavi is one of the most congested area with narrow streets and lanes, hence be cautious and beware of your personal things. This is not only a market place for the people who are keen on the latest style and trend but also many big companies buy these leather related bags and handbags for their corporate gifting purposes. This acts very beneficial for the manufacturer, seller and the buyer where the local manufacturers receive large orders.While companies are spared excess costs when buying well-crafted leather goods in bulk.

Most of the Shops Deal with Only Genuine Leather:

Though most of the shops deal with only genuine leather one should also be careful before finalizing a product for there are loop holes everywhere sometimes even duplicate handbags and wallets are sold here. Apart from those who are involved at tanneries and leather goods products, Dharavi is also known for its various other industrious craftsmen like tailors and potters. There are lots of potteries or the terracotta stores in Dharavi doing excellent business. The workshops and stores are central to an informal economy which boasts an economic stream of between US$600 million and US$1 billion annually and provides a source of income for aspirational young people.

It is worth to make visit to Dharavi to pick a handbag which is not suede but instead pure promising genuine leather. Dharavi can be easily reached from other parts of the city through various modes of transport like the metro rails and the local buses. The Dharavi shopping market is open throughout the week, with only exceptions for the manufacturing units which take a day off giving a relaxation time for both the machines and the workers at it. There are lot of pottery units and textile industries too in Dharavi. Apart from these manufacturing units there are also increasing recycling industries which deal with processing of recyclable waste from other parts of Mumbai. According to a recent survey done in Dharavi there are nearly 5000 businesses and 15,000 single-room factories. The word leather in Mumbai immediately brings into picture the hustling and bustling busy streets of Dharavi which also exhibits vibrant nature of the local culture prevailing in and around Dharavi.