TANSY SIMPSON

The fumes from the aluminum furnace are highly toxic.  This worker is taking a break, the effects of working with no protective masks are evident.

Sorting through the rubble. No gloves.

Stoking the furnace

After stoking the furnace, he is in need of the draft of fresh air coming from the rooms entry.  Despite the dangers of working in this environment it is the workers who choose to continue without gloves, protective masks and glasses.  They feel these items slowdown their process - or so I was told.

This boy works in tandem with another, slicing unwanted thread off spools so that they can sell the plastic for recycling.

The thread comes from Dharavi's garment district.

Leather workers, heat pressing the hides, this is the fourth stage of the process of readying the material for use. These workers earn under $8 a day and much of this leather (not originating from cows) gets sent to the western world for designer items such as bags.

Being encouraged to not be so weary of the lens!

A Gujarat pot maker, watching over an open kiln.  The fire is kept burning using fabric scraps from Dharavi's garment district.