Discover: The Leather Boutique

The ultimate joy of running this blog lies in discovering the incredible work being done by aspiring/established entrepreneurs, their humble beginnings, their inspirations and how each tries to make a difference to the world of bags in their own little ways. My latest discovery led me to a store tucked in the bylanes of Indiranagar, Bangalore. The effervescent founding couple, Zeshan Rahman and Jayanti Bhattacharya, were gracious to let me explore the premises uninhibited.

Started in mid 2012, The Leather Boutique could as well have been named The Leather Haven, ‘coz it is exactly that – the characteristic whiff of leather intoxicates as soon as you enter and it has a line-up well beyond the traditional bags and jackets (though these certainly form the core of the portfolio) – ranging from strolleys, duffles, ipad cases, hipflasks, belts, passport holders, gloves and even footwear, in a delectable color palette. You can scour through them and be sure to find some unconventional gift items. All this in the finest quality ovine and bovine full grain imported leather. Running an initiative in leather products requires deep expertise in understanding the raw material as well as the industry. Zeshan has wagonloads of both having been in the business of importing fine leather and distributing to manufacturers for over two decades. Leveraging such experience and floating one’s own brand is but a natural progression. Their USP is to offer all this at affordable prices, with contemporary designs and a touch of old world charm. That’s triple delight for the buyers!

There is also something I learnt about the ethical aspect while doing my research on TLB. All leather, apart from exotic ones like crocodile and python, is a by-product of the meat industry. Animals are seldom killed for their hide. Moreover, leather is organic hence entirely biodegradable as opposed to faux leather. Hence, it makes an important contribution in protecting the eco-system that supports all life on the planet. Though I enjoy leather products, this little piece of information has helped me see this material in a completely new light and lift that tiny feeling of guilt I had each time I purchased it. I owe it to you Jayanti! Moreover, they source their raw material only from “Green” factories – those that comply with the European norms of proper chemical disposal and processed in tanneries that meet REACH standards for its leather. (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) is a European Union Regulation of 18 December 2006. REACH addresses the production and use of chemical substances and their potential impacts on both human health and the environment. It has been described as the most complex legislation in the Union’s history and the most important in 20 years. It is the strictest law to date regulating chemical substances and will affect industries throughout the world. Source: Wikipedia) TLB’s social responsibility also extends to a strict ‘no child labor’ policy. This wholesome approach to creating stellar products is what makes TLB so endearing.

The boutique has a bag to meet your every need; evening bags, clutches, work bags, slings and laptop bags. In addition to their in-house designs, they also stock bags from other noted bag-makers, including the Italian designer Farotto Viaggi, whose puff lace designs and deer skin are stupendous. They also do customization for bulk orders.

TLB has two in-house designers currently, while Zeshan meticulously ensures that each bag is a perfect blend of style and substance. It turns out, he is also a gifted writer; he writes at the TLB blog. I admire his approach to handling customer complaints.

The only physical outlet so far is the one in Indiranagar. But do not fret, as they offer free shipping through their website (for orders over INR 2,500) and have plans to set up shop-in-shop pan India shortly. With more funding they also plan to open additional outlets in a few cities.

The way they have shaped up this far coupled with their massive experience makes me conclude TLB is a world-class brand in the making. Zeshan and Jayanti – good luck; can’t wait to feature your bags in detail on BagsLounge! The Leather Boutique is bound to soar!