Handmade leather sandals: showing real craftsmanship in a 10-second reel

In the historic lanes of Kasba Peth in Pune, the rhythmic tap-tap of shoemaker's hammers has echoed from Prakash Shinde's family workshop since 1978.

Prakash crafts authentic, hand-stitched Kolhapuri leather chappals and belts. His biggest challenge wasn't the quality of his leather — it was that young shoppers assumed handcrafted leather sandals either took weeks of bargaining or were overpriced in shopping malls.

“People walk past small craft workshops every day without knowing what goes into making a pair of shoes by hand,” Prakash says.

3 shots that show the handmade difference

When Prakash received a new batch of vegetable-tanned, braided leather sandals, his daughter helped him take three genuine photos right on his worktable:

1. The Artisan at Work: Prakash holding the freshly finished sandal with his carving tools and leather scraps on the wooden bench.
2. The Hand-Braided Detail: A tight macro shot showing the intricate hand-stitched leather cords and natural grain.
3. The Pair on Display: The pair placed against the rich wooden shelf with its size tag.

In AdFlow, they added a two-line voiceover: “100% genuine buffalo leather Kolhapuri chappals — hand-braided, soft-cushioned sole. All sizes 6 to 11 in stock.” Price cloud: ₹899 (regular mall price ₹1,499) with the badge “HANDMADE IN PUNE”.

Reaching customers across the city

When the video was posted on Instagram and sent to festival WhatsApp groups, the response was immediate. Customers didn't just ask about the price — they appreciated seeing the artisan's hands and the natural texture of the leather.

Within two weeks, Prakash shipped 45 pairs directly to customers across Pune and Mumbai via local courier.

What craft & fashion makers should remember

• Show the hands and the bench: Real wood, tools, and workbenches prove it is genuinely handmade, not mass-produced in a factory.
• Get close to the stitching: Buyers want to see the texture, thread, and natural leather grain.
• State the honest price: When people see high craft at an affordable ₹899, they don't hesitate to buy.

Learn how artisans, boutiques and craft makers use AdFlow in our guide for shops.