Interview with Ketan Pishe of P N RAO Fine Suits
P N RAO Fine Suits is a name synonymous with impeccable tailoring and timeless style. With a rich history dating back to 1923, the brand has dressed generations of discerning gentlemen, becoming a cornerstone of Bengaluru’s fashion scene. The TVC Media Team had the honour of speaking with Ketan Pishe, a third-generation entrepreneur at P N RAO. Ketan’s expertise in trend analysis, retail, and product development has been instrumental in propelling the brand forward while maintaining its commitment to heritage and quality.
Ketan’s journey with P N RAO began in 2006, and since then, he has overseen all aspects of the business. His keen understanding of fashion trends allows him not only to analyse current styles but also to predict future directions in the industry. This forward-thinking approach has been a key factor in the brand’s continued success.
In this interview, Ketan shared insights into P N RAO’s remarkable 100-year journey, their recent foray back into women’s wear, and their vision for the future. So, buckle up as we delve into the world of bespoke tailoring and timeless elegance with Ketan Pishe.
- Can you elaborate on the expansion of P N RAO over the years?
Before we swoon down on the expansion of P N RAO over the years, it is pertinent to understand the roots. The brand took wings in 1923 birthed by the Late Shri Pishe Narayan Rao started as a women’s wear brand that dressed up British ladies who went to the races, making 16 dresses apiece at the rate of 1 dress per race (Each season has 16 races). Post attaining Independence when the Britishers started leaving the country, the eldest son of the Late Shri Pishe Narayan Rao, Late Shri Panduranga Rao, learnt the art of pattern making of men’s suits and the rest is history. The acceptability of P N RAO’s men’s suits for its craftsmanship, quality, and eye for detail drew discerning customers from all corners of Bengaluru to the, at that time only store, on M G Road. Being closer to the customer, listening to customer’s feedback and perfecting the art of suit making. In the year 2008, the first expansion happened with the second store opening in Bengaluru in Jayanagar. Since then the brand has grown to be a 5-branch brand spread across the length and breadth of the city.
The expansion into Chennai was a well-thought-about decision. The erstwhile Madras, boasting of a long history of English East India company through the British rule (similar to Bengaluru) slowly grew into a manufacturing hub and began to produce many millionaires with a fine taste and appreciation for quality. Having established a qualitative brand through multiple stores in Bengaluru, Chennai became the next logical city to expand into. With 2 showrooms in the prime areas of Anna Nagar and Alwarpet, both showrooms of P N RAO witness healthy and brisk business from many discerning customers.
- How did P N RAO commemorate its 100-year journey in 2023?
The Centennial Year celebrations in 2023 were a year-long celebration for it (the year 2023) marked 100 glorious years of the brand P N RAO; and 100 glorious years of dressing up Bengalureans and Chennaiites with its finest suits. To kick off the celebration, the brand unveiled a Coffee Table book and a bust of the founder Late Shri Pishe Narayan Rao. The Coffee Table book, aptly titled “A Saga of Needle and Thread”, the book details the origin, evolution, and legacy of the brand P N RAO spanning 100 years. Authored by Aliyeh Rizvi and filled with memorable stories and anecdotes, the book brings out such nuances that have helped shape the history of the brand.
May 25th 2023 marked the birth anniversary of the founder Late Shri Pishe Narayan Rao and the day was marked as a red letter day in the annals of P N RAO. It was the day to preview the much-awaited Women’s Wear range of attires, a category the brand re-entered after a gap of 100 long years. The
re-entry into the women’s wear range was a fitting tribute to Late Shri Pishe Narayan Rao’s birth anniversary celebrations, a category that the brand was first known for.
- Looking ahead, what excites you the most about the P N RAO? What do you hope to achieve in the coming next few years?
In the words of Ketan Pishe, Partner, P N RAO and third-generation entrepreneur, “P N RAO is synonymous with finesse, elegance, classiness, style. Modern, yet rooted to its founding philosophies/core values of Customer First, Design Differentiation, Advisory Role, Fair Profit, Pioneering Innovation and Finest Merchandise – values that stood the test of time and have helped us achieve the status of the first go-to brand for men’s suits. Having set a scorching pace for the brand, I’m excited to see how P N RAO’s next 100-year journey rides on our strong lineage, offering the best of the best of the suits in unique designs, fusing classic style with modern sensibilities. As the next generation prepares themselves to don the mantle to carry forward the rich legacy of the brand, we will maintain our relevance and freshness by experimenting with new materials, silhouettes, and techniques while adhering to the legacy of fine craftsmanship. In addition to embracing innovation and sustainability to satisfy our customers’ changing needs and expectations, I hope to see P N RAO flourish as a symbol of excellence in craftsmanship, quality, and style and the first name that should come to anyone’s mind when they think of suits”.
From a geographical footprint point of view, the brand has envisioned growing beyond the Southern hemisphere into unchartered territories like Western and Northern parts of the country and replicating what it has done in Bengaluru.
- What challenges did you face in expanding the brand from its origins in Bengaluru to Chennai and establishing seven stores across both cities?
Brand P N RAO, having comfortably settled and nestled on M G Road with its tentacles spread in other parts of the city, it was time for geographical expansion. Being a South India-grown brand, the immediate geography that we were looking to expand into was in the same hemisphere. Chennai was emerging as a hotbed for its quality-conscious customers, and high net-worth individuals and the city emerging as a manufacturing and trading hub. However, it had to be the right decision. After rummaging through vast amounts of data and using that to zero in on the location.
- Can you share any memorable anecdotes or experiences from your journey with P N RAO Fine Suits that have had a significant impact on you?
My father Mr Chandramohan Pishe has quoted in the Coffee Table book – “A Saga of Needle and Thread” which reads: “The Second World War happened when my oldest brother, who was the firstborn in the family, was attending RBANM’s School. My brother was doing his Higher Secondary School. At that time, my father’s business was growing and he needed help. My older brother joined my father in the early 1940s. He gave up his schooling because this was more important than anything else and together they started doing business. What I appreciate about my brother, Pishe Panduranga Rao is that he stepped up. He could have said he wanted another career path which would have left my father in a difficult situation. I feel my brother took the right decision at that crucial time and made us what we are today.”
“My father has seen, face to face the struggles and hardships of his father Late Shri Pishe Narayan Rao and his son Late Shri Panduranga Rao. When I close my eyes and imagine the situation, this has taught me the importance of sacrifice for the greater good of all; step up during hard times, roll up your sleeves and get into the act”, adds Ketan Pishe, Partner, P N RAO with a gleam in his eyes.
- As a third-generation entrepreneur, what does it mean to you to continue the legacy of P N RAO?
“P N RAO is a legacy brand with a rich heritage and lineage. As a third-generation entrepreneur, carrying on P N RAO’s legacy is extremely important to me while at the same time adapting to the demands of modern-day fashion ask. It’s about more than just running a company. It is about upholding the values every single day left behind by my illustrious grandfather Late Shri Pishe Narayan Rao. It is about keeping a family legacy and continuing to build on the legacy that has been cultivated over many years. It’s about paying tribute to the work, commitment, and vision of my ancestors who founded P N RAO. Their accomplishments and sacrifices serve as a continual reminder of what I have been entrusted to continue and take forward, and build it up further to the next higher level” says Ketan Pishe, Partner, P N RAO.
- Can you discuss any initiatives or programs that P N RAO Fine Suits has undertaken to give back to the community or promote social responsibility?
“The Pishe family has been involved in its own way towards the upliftment of the underprivileged and the have-nots. At the P N RAO manufacturing unit in Hosakote, (outskirts of Bengaluru), P N RAO has set up a crèche to cater to the needs of new mothers with babies with a daycare specialist to take care of the children who have nobody to take care of the little ones at home. We have also appointed a tutor to teach non-Kannada speaking folks Kannada speaking and writing classes.
Closer home, as a close-knit family, or we must say, extended family of our karigars (read: tailors) at our factory and our stores, we make it a point to spend important festivals like Diwali together and make them feel part and parcel of the P N RAO family some of whom have been with us for decades; some second generation too. The P N RAO family members have taken it upon themselves to ensure the education of the children of these Karigars; while also taking care of the Karigars immediate health, medical and hospitalisation expenses.
- Can you share any upcoming projects or collaborations that P N RAO is excited about?
Brand P N RAO is about to enter Hyderabad (Telangana) with an exclusive store in the state – marking it the first store in Telangana. Plans are afoot to throw open the doors of the favourite brand P N RAO to the citizens of Hyderabad shortly. In parallel, as part of its geographical expansion plans, the brand also plans to take the franchisee route with ambitious plans to make deeper inroads into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities of Karnataka, Telangana, AP and TN.
- What steps has P N RAO taken to adapt to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic?
The COVID-19 pandemic was a defining moment in all walks of life. With the imposition of lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, life came to a standstill with businesses coming to a grinding halt, cities deserted and the fear of the virus looming large over our heads. The clothing business, being a high-touch sector, faced the heat. But as an organisation which has demonstrated utmost care towards its employees and customers, we swung into action immediately and implemented strict health and safety procedures in all manufacturing and retail locations to protect the health and safety of our staff and clients. As businesses and normal life started limping back to normalcy after the lockdown was lifted, we ensured that ALL staff were mandatorily COVID-19 vaccinated, practising social distancing. Along with the safety of our own staff, we had to ensure the safety of our customers too. Being a high-touch sector (where customers prefer to touch and feel the garments before making a purchase decision), we were conscious of the possibility of the COVID-19 virus spreading through this touch. We sanitised all our garments, and fabrics that were in the store to ensure safety. Additionally, when embargos for imports of materials were lifted, we ensured sanitization of the fabrics as well.
- What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to enter the fashion industry, particularly in the field of bespoke tailoring?
Before bringing to the fore the commitment for those wanting to plunge into bespoke tailoring, it will only be prudent to start with the fashion industry. Let me tell you – Fashion is a serious business and it is not about selling the “in-thing” at an economical price. An entrepreneur in the fashion industry, needless to say, should be innovative and creative, but should also have the foresight to foresee to precisely predict future trends based on current trends and always be a few notches above the rest of the players in the market. Secondly, be clear on your target audience and match it with the garments that you are catering to. The population is becoming increasingly quality-conscious and is willing to pay a price for it as long as they see value in their spending. It is important to keep an eye on changing trends in this space. Third, quality consciousness: This trait should be prime and all-encompassing – from the clothes that you have to offer to the way you conduct with customers/staff, to the way you go about your daily business routine.
Drilling it down further, if you nurture an ambition to be in bespoke tailoring, your innovation, creativity, knowledge of fabrics, the latest and in-thing in fabrics, bespoke tailoring, new players in the market in fabrics, connections with fabrics manufacturers, go up many notches. At the start point, bespoke tailoring is NOT regular tailoring. It is a specialised skill which is mastered over some time. Consider your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and decide if bespoke tailoring is your cup of tea or not.
Responses attributed to Mr. Ketan Pishe, Partner, P N RAO
