Est. 19621962
Archive — 1962 to 2026
One tannery town, one family, and the people who joined it. Told owner by owner, from the first pits on Bazaar Street to the showroom on Station Road.
Fig. 01 — The tannery yard, Ambur [CONFIRM year]
01 / 04 — Ownership
Chapter 01 — 1962–1984
Founder
Haji Mohammed Iqbal started with two pits for vegetable tanning and a single cutting table behind his house on Bazaar Street, Ambur.
He supplied tanned goat and sheep skins to traders in Madras. While others in the cluster moved to faster methods, he kept a long bark tan of 40 days per batch.
“Leather remembers how it was treated. So treat it slowly.”
Chapter 02 — 1984–2005
Managing Partner, son of the founder
Abdul Rahman took over on his father’s retirement and in 1986 renamed the business Iqbal Impex to reflect its export work.
He built the first proper workshop on Station Road and brought in machine cutting, while keeping hand-stitching for every finished piece.
“My father taught me the hide. The world taught me the stitch.”
Chapter 03 — 2005–2018
Partners — Farooq Ahmed joined in 2005 as Operations Partner
The partnership brought in modern finishing lines and an in-house design bench.
Iqbal Impex began showing at international trade fairs and launched its own label for the Indian market.
Chapter 04 — 2018–Present
Managing Director, grandson of the founder
Trained in leather technology and design, Imran returned to lead the company.
He brought back the founder’s 40-day vegetable tan for a heritage line, introduced traceable hides, and opened a showroom with workshop tours.
“We are not reinventing anything. We are remembering it properly.”
02 / 04 — Milestones
Chapter 01 · 1962–1984
1962
Two pits and one cutting table. First batch of 120 skins sold in Madras.
1968
Workforce grows to 18.
1975
Hand-stitched belts and wallets cut from leftover offcuts.
1981
A consignment of finished leather leaves for Italy.
Chapter 02 · 1984–2005
1986
Export licence obtained.
1991
A 12,000 sq ft workshop opens.
1997
Shipped to Germany and the UK.
2002
One of the early units in the cluster to install one.
Chapter 03 · 2005–2018
2006
First stall at an international leather fair.
2010
Second unit opens for small leather goods.
2014
Own label launched for retail in India.
2017
Workforce crosses 220.
Chapter 04 · 2018–Present
2019
Revives the founder’s 40-day process.
2021
Flagship opens with a live stitching bench.
2023
Every heritage piece carries a batch number.
2026
New website and archive launched.
03 / 04 — Then & now
The workshop Abdul Rahman Iqbal opened in 1991, and the same floor now. Drag the stitch to compare.
04 / 04 — At a glance
| Era | Owner | Key change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962–1984 | Haji Mohammed Iqbal | Founded as a vegetable tannery |
| 1984–2005 | Abdul Rahman Iqbal | Renamed Iqbal Impex, began exports |
| 2005–2018 | Abdul Rahman Iqbal & Farooq Ahmed | Partnership, finished goods, own label |
| 2018–Present | Imran Iqbal | Heritage revival, showroom, traceability |