Kemran Ramnarayan has been crafting all manner of things out of leather for the last 25 years drawing quiet recognition and shying away from much attention but he is changing all that now all because of a mirror.
He boasts that it is the only mirror of its kind in the world and he could be right. It is genuine leather save the glass and comes complete with drawers and carvings of the first couple in the Garden of Eden – Adam and Eve.
“It’s my Adam and Eve mirror, well that is what I call it, and it is a beauty to behold. Just stop, take a minute and look at it,” he insists when he dropped in at Stabroek News’ office to display his mirror.
Ramnarayan who goes by the name, “Jimmy” said the mirror is his most treasured work to date and after 25 years, he said, it is difficult to have a favourite piece. He pointed out that his wife Tulex has been in the leather craft business as long as him and that she also worked on creating the mirror.
Jimmy said that he would usually craft items for the export market since that is where the buck is but according to him, many persons here have shown interest. Though he did not wish to disclose the exact figure, he said, that his prized mirror was off the market having caught the eyes of a local buyer.
Throughout his career he has crafted shoes, jewellery, sandals and bags among other items out of leather. Jimmy said that he is currently working on a chest of drawers which would rival his work on the mirror.
“I will create a one-of-a-kind chest of drawers that no one has seen before. It will be simply beautiful,” he added.
Jimmy said he has a committed team of persons around him who show up everyday to work hard. Since setting up his workshop more than 25 years ago, he said, that the place recently got a face lift and now remains one of the longest surviving craft shops in the country.
He intends to participate in the Carifesta celebrations later this year and according to him, some of the items he hopes to exhibit will just blow people away.
