Veta Huprem in his leatherwork studion in Kohima. (Morung Photo)
Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | August 25
Veta Huprem’s Leather Studio in Billy Graham, Kohima gives you a sense of being somewhere in Europe as a visitor once commented. “I like this place because of the ambience, the locality and the environment,” Veta says. This is precisely why he moved here after a decade of starting his own leather brand under the tag – ‘H Veta’ in 2010, at a time when leather craft was considered a totally new career in Nagaland.
“It’s still very new to Nagaland,” he impresses upon in a conversation with The Morung Express. But “I like any kind of creativity,” he professes even as he grew up indulging himself in different kinds of artwork, carpentry and ‘manual stuff’ as he puts it. This also explains why he eventually decided to become a leather designer after exploring different fields of creativity and spent a good 13 years in Pune before returning home to start his own brand.
Veta Huprem from Phusachodu village under Phek district lost both his parents at a very young age and as the youngest among four siblings; it has clearly been an arduous journey of growing up for him. “I am not ashamed to say that I grew up in an orphanage school in Dimapur,” he says.
Despite a difficult childhood, he has come a long way from becoming a self-taught designer, who learnt everything by doing it himself to a much sought-after leather designer. His studio is currently home to customised leather products and accessories ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 4000. Some of these products include wallets, belts, bags, sandals, watch straps, key chains, clutch, etc.
Recalling his journey of getting into leatherwork, he says, “I started by making a pair of leather sandals for myself. When I started wearing it, my friends wanted it as well and that’s when I started making more. Slowly, I realised people also love my craft and my work and I thought, why don’t I start something here in Nagaland, because it’s very rare.”
Veta Huprem sources raw materials from places like Delhi, Kolkata, and Kanpur and goes on to explain that there are different types of leather- camel, cow, buffalo, goat, with varying thickness. He has clients bringing their own ideas every day and this is where he says, “I need to figure out exactly what they want,” while incorporating his creative designs into the product. But personally, he enjoys making wallets.
During his years in Pune, he worked in different areas one of which includes an NGO Post Production wherein he trained widows and single mothers to stitch. He also ran a restaurant, did wedding planning for about 15-20 couples and further served as a deacon for Naga Christian Fellowship (NCF) in Pune for a period of three years.
He has done photography, cooking, brick & tiles work before realising the need to choose a professional field. Given his love for leather, he decided to give up all other jobs and ventured into creating genuine leather products.
“I didn’t take any formal training but it is God’s gift that I am able to do this,” he further puts across. “Whatever comes out, it's a genuine design.
I want to do something unique, and whatever product it is that I am making, I also want to collaborate with a tribal design,” he goes on to say.
He has no regrets to have spent over a decade outside the state while expressing that, “I learnt a lot, even practically and especially how to survive and I am always grateful to God.” Articulating that it is very difficult for our generation to survive, he also encourages young people by saying that regardless of whether you are a graduate or not, if you are smart enough, you can do something.
As for his products, he hopes that it will travel beyond the state and the North East in the near future. He is currently focussing on North East although in the past, he has had clients from Delhi, Dubai, and Germany. He is further looking to optimise his productions by roping in dedicated people who has the passion for the craft. Someday soon, he also plans to start manufacturing school uniform shoes.
