Local leather artist eyes international market

Jul 06, 2008 Sports

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Creations of leather have for several years become a regular feature in Guyana and a number of designers are credited with using the material to produce many outstanding pieces.

But it was Kemran Ramnarayan, also known as Jimmy, who some 25 years ago received divine inspiration to introduce something new and exciting to the leather artistry.

Speaking with Kaieteur News recently, Jimmy, who hails from the Albouystown area and is well known as a boxing promoter, said that he was nudged into the field by his wife Tulux, who has over the years borne him seven children.

Tulux, according to Jimmy, learnt the art since she was in school and thus passed on her knowledge to him overtime.

He explained that he embraced the business of leather craft wholeheartedly and started off with the common leather slippers and purses but realised that in order for his business to survive for him to maintain his family he would have to get innovative to really rival his many competitors.

As such, Jimmy revealed that he started to befriend other craftsmen and was able to closely examine the detail of their work.

And according to him, he associated himself with the best in the field such as Roy Cummings, Errol Chung and Peter Vieira with a view of drawing from their highly recognised capabilities.

Armed with his new found knowledge and a vivid imagination, Jimmy started to improve on his pieces even though he started out with some trial and errors.

According to him, he became so meticulous with his pieces that he would take almost two days to fully complete a pair of leather slippers when it would take a regular craftsman about three hours.

He said that his secret to improving his slippers is that he started to cushion them with soft material much to the appreciation of his growing customer base. He said that instead of simply making a quantity of items he would opt to design custom made pieces for his clients, creating them exactly as they desire.

It was for this reason, he disclosed, that his work became appealing to the world of the differently-abled, and he was soon flocked with orders from persons who had feet problems.

Jimmy became so clever in his novel designs that he even started to create choice pieces of leather jewellery and jewellery boxes among other breath-taking items, which he designed using a combination of Indian, Chinese, African, European and Amerindian arts.

Among the best of his creations is an awesome and simply gorgeous mirror which is call the ‘Adam and Eve Mirror’.

With a Chinese-styled roof, the structure of the mirror is engraved with hand carvings which serve to illuminate its elegance.

In fact, one of these pieces has been recently sold for US$5,000 or in Guyanese terms $1 M, according to him.

But though his work has begun to stand out over the past 15 years, Jimmy disclosed that the resulting profits were not adequate enough to maintain his family.

As a result, he started to seek the assistance of several of his friends who travel abroad on a regular basis to find overseas markets for his products.

According to Devar Samaroo, a businessman and good friend of Jimmy, he has already started to promote the exceptional pieces internationally.  He believes that with substantial exposure there will be no stoppage to the original leather creations that Jimmy has unveiled.

Another friend of Jimmy’s, Neil Corry, said that he will continually be working towards promoting the potential of his friend of many years.

Corry pointed out that he intends to do everything he can to see his friend’s products be showcased across the globe, a development which has already been kicked into motion.

In fact, the product has gained such recognition that trade consultant, Alberta Dyer, based in California, anxiously paid Jimmy a visit last week to witness him in creating mode.

And so impressed was Dyer that he said that he will be spreading the word of Jimmy’s art to every art lover he knows in the United States.

He disclosed that while he had heard of Jimmy’s work, seeing him in action was more than captivating.
“This is art and people appreciate real art,” Dyer articulated with passion.

He, however, noted that a major problem associated with marketing Jimmy’s products is the fact that there may not be enough to offset the number of orders that will come his way.

Jimmy revealed though that the problem will be addressed soon enough since he intends to employ a few persons to aid his efforts.

He also plans on introducing an initiative in the community of Albouystown where single parents and youths can learn his style of leather art.

Meanwhile, his intriguing art will be showcased at Carifesta X, an event he expects will serve to significantly promote his thriving business even more.

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