The World Federation of Master Tailors (WFMT) honors Pishe Brothers for their extraordinary dedication and service to the field of tailoring
Bengaluru / Rohan Sharma. A brand’s journey of 100 years is a major milestone in the annals of a firm. P N RAO, a classic and iconic men’s fashion brand from Bengaluru founded in 1923, is one of only a few firms in the country that can claim this tremendous feat. P N RAO, with its motto FINE SUITS SINCE 1923, has earned the distinction of suiting up the cities’ elites while remaining faithful to its original philosophy and ideals throughout the last 100 years.
P N RAO has brought global industry leaders in fabrics to share their perspectives on how the ever-changing and ever-evolving space of fashion is dictating the fabrics segment, more specifically the luxury fabrics space, globally and in India to commemorate its centennial year celebrations on May 25th, 2023, coinciding with the 120th birth anniversary of its founder late Shri Pishe Narayan Rao.
Ketan Pishe and Naveen Pishe, Partners, P N RAO shared the stage with Neil Hart, Global Sales Director, Scabal; Bob McAuley, President, HMS International (parent company of Huddersfield Fine Worsteds), Chandramouli, Director, Huddersfield Fine Worsteds India and Roger La Viale; Simone, Global Sales Manager, Reda; Vitale Barberis Canonico and Vandana, MD, Dormeuil India.
Ketan Pishe, Partner at P N RAO, spoke to the reporters at the event. He said, “The year 2023 is important for P N RAO because it is the 100th anniversary of the brand. It is even more important today because it is also the 120th anniversary of the birth of our great founder, Shri Pishe Narayan Rao. Over the years, P N RAO and all of our friends and partners around the world have worked together to bring people the best suits made of the best fabrics. This has made us a well-known name in suits and a force to be reckoned with. As we get ready for the next 100 years with renewed spirit and vigor and strengthen our partnerships with fabric makers around the world, we hope to solidify our place as the market leader even more.
“To give our customers the best suits at the best prices, P N RAO has built one of the largest solar-powered bespoke tailoring units on the outskirts of Bengaluru,” said Naveen Pishe, Partner at P N RAO. “This shows our commitment to the environment and clean, safe, and hygienic manufacturing of our apparel.
In response to the shift in luxury fabrics in India and around the world
“India is demanding more finer and luxurious clothes, and we are also working hard to meet those demands from the global and Indian consumer perspective, which is becoming more demanding and curious to know about the entire process – from the raw materials stage to the finished products stage. There is definitely a demand for higher grade materials” said Neil Hart, Global Sales Director, Scabal.
Bob McAuley, President of HMS International, said, “India, with a population of 1.4 billion, is an aspirational market for all fabric makers, but the needs and requirements are very different. The luxury market is growing very quickly, so brands like ours are ready to make changes to our products to meet the needs of each country.
Richard Boide, MD of Dormeuil, joined via video conference and said, “An important change I think will happen in India in the future is that as more and more people become concerned about the environment, brands that invest heavily in sustainable and ethical manufacturing processes will benefit because consumers will increasingly choose brands with strong sustainability commitments.”
“The best suits in India come from P N RAO, which has been called the Saville Row of India,” said the global leaders. “P N RAO has given bespoke tailoring a new meaning by coming up with things that have never been done or thought of before.”
Commenting on the changes in luxury fabrics in India, they said, “As global manufacturers and merchants of the best fabrics for suits, we have seen a clear shift in demand for fabrics, especially luxury fabrics, a segment that is largely driven by wedding seasons, festivals, and special occasions in India.” The goal is to have a wardrobe full of clothes made from fabrics that are in style. But it doesn’t end here. As people from all walks of life become more concerned about the environment, they also pay more attention to the fabrics they choose. This has caused a big change in the market for eco-friendly products. P.N. RAO has been at the forefront of playing an “advisory role,” which is a core value, to help customers deal with these waves of change and pass on these gravitations to help us come up with new ideas and make our buffet of offerings better.
On this special occasion, officials from the World Federation of Masters Tailors gave P N RAO a token of appreciation for their great work in advancing bespoke tailoring and spreading the word about it to people who want to make suits. Ketan Pishe and Naveen Pishe, both Partners at P N RAO, got the gift. Dr. Prakash Parmar, who is the Director of the World Federation of Master Tailors, gave the gift.
Later in the evening, P N RAO will give a sneak peek of its new Women’s Wear line-up of clothes that it will be releasing soon, as well as its specially made Centennial Collection of clothes to celebrate its 100 glorious years, at a glittering fashion show. It will also honor 100 eminent personalities from Bengaluru who have brought name and fame to the city and have been part of Bengaluru’s growth story, just like P N RAO.
P N Rao: A Legacy of Excellence in Luxury Fabrics and Bespoke Tailoring
P N RAO started their journey back in 1923, pioneered by Pishe Narayan Rao. In the early days British officers and ladies of high rank counted on the stylised, customized perfection attuned by P N RAO. The empire expanded over the years with their characteristic suave and grace blending tradition and contemporary innovation. Over the decades, they defined men’s beau monde across the nation. The brand has become synonymous with class and quality. P N RAO has been the choice of men’s wear with their seven stores, spread across Bengaluru and Chennai. Constant upgrade and superior quality have buttoned up their suit of success. In the post-independence era this brand has revolutionized men’s tailoring under P N Panduranga Rao and starred as a trend setter in ‘ready to wear’ clothing. P N RAO is having one of the largest bespoke tailoring facilities in the country with solar powered units in Hoskote industrial belt.
