I am 26 years old. Toyi Swuro is a Phek town entrepreneur who takes pride in his work as a Cobbler. In 2018, he created Craft Gallery, which sells leather footwear, leather goods such as purses, wallets, belts, upholstery, and leather straps for various reasons. Craft Gallery is distinguished by the fact that it assists students and impoverished individuals in repairing their footwear at low or no cost.
Toyi learnt to mend shoes at an early age, and he frequently used the talent to make pocket money. “Growing up from a humble family background and being the eldest among five siblings, life was always hard and challenging. I did not want to depend on my parent’s income anymore when it came to financial matter. I needed to start doing something where I can stand on my own, so I decided to take this humble work which I was good at,” says Swuro.
“I asked around my neighborhood if they had any torn shoes or worn out footwear which could be repaired. Slowly, my room was filled with torn shoes and sandals,” says Toyi. “There were times when I didn’t even earn 10 rs for my tea. In the evening I would close my shop without earning a single penny. It pained me and I would often wonder how I would respond to my family members that night,” recalls Toyi. With courage, he would wake up the next day and open his shop again.
“There were times when I didn’t even get paid ten rupees for my tea.” I’d close my shop in the evening without making a single penny. It hurt me, and I constantly wondered how I would react to my family members that night,” Toyi recounts. He would get up the next day with courage and reopen his shop.
He was soon able to hire a few pals to work with him. He believes that acknowledgement of his work on numerous social media platforms was also critical to the success of his company.
He and his colleagues were able to improve their tools and equipment with their money, and they moved on to open a larger store in Phek Town, which is now known as “Craft Gallery” and is located in the Phek Town Council Building.
Swuro also expressed gratitude to the Council for providing them with a room at no cost.
Craft Gallery also helps students find part-time work throughout the vacations. Toyi and his colleagues have also been able to educate young students the technique of making footwear and other leather production abilities.
“We Nagas are so reluctant in associating ourselves in menial labour work such as Cobbler, Coolie, Barber etc. With many educated/uneducated unemployed youths someone needs to start this mission to set an example,” says Toyi.
“Today I am not ashamed to be called a Cobbler because this is the work which is giving me my bread, my integrity and my honour. I don’t know if I am going to achieve it throughout my life time but I’m into a mission to bring change with Dignity of Labour and i believe that the youth of Nagaland can amount to something good once we come out of our comfort zones,” expresses Toyi.
