Raymonds is a name to reckon with. It is synonymous with excellence. Raymonds is a nineteenth century textile company in India and therefore, more than hundred years old. Singhnia of J.K. Indusries is the majority shareholder and CEO of Raymonds. Raymonds is particularly known for its woollens. It makes suiting and shirting. It also makes blankets and woolen sweaters and pullovers. Suiting and shirting material of very high quality is its hall mark. It exports to lot of countries and is known for its quality. Raymonds specializes in pure wool and blended (terrywool) fabrics for suits and trousers. It also makes terrene cloth for both shirts and pants or suits. It had no rival for a long time. Now many other textile manufacturers are competing with Raymonds. Some of these are Reliance, Grasim, S. Kumar, Birla and many more. Some of the products of Reliance and Raymonds are so much high end that they have gold thread in the cloth and one suit length may cost lacs of rupees. Raymonds also makes ready made apparel; Suits, trousers, shirts, blazers, tea shirts, ties and handkerchief. Raymonds is all for men.
Cloth
Cloth manufactured by Raymonds is of high quality. In the north of India where the weather is extreme people like to wear pure woolen suits or coats and pants. Raymond is the first choice for the quality conscious. Its cloth comes in very many shades and colours. Besides plain colour cloth, one can also choose variegated designs, stripes, checks, and many more. It also makes blended cloth; especially terrywool. The blend will be varying and so will be the appearance, finish and cost. Wool to terrene ratio may be 80:20, 66:34, 80:20 and so on. Besides wool, cotton cloth is also made, both pure and blended. The blend gives a very good attractive finish to the cloth. The crease in the trouser is much better maintained. These days in addition to terrene blending with rayon, viscose which is cheaper is also done by all manufacturers. Blended cloth is generally a favourite with most persons unless one is particular for pure wool. Similarly cloth for shirt is also pure cotton and blended. Again as in the case of cloth for pant, shirt cloth is also blended with terrene, rayon and viscose. The cost very much depends on the blend ratio and fiber. Shirt cloth is also available in a variety of colours, designs and patterns. Good choice is available to cater to most tastes.
Outlets
Raymonds has three types of retail outlets; mills show rooms, authorized dealers and others who buy from the company and sell along with other brands. Raymonds has numerous show rooms not only in big metros like Bombay and Delhi but also in other towns. Authorised dealers are also many so that availability of the product should not be a problem to anybody. Raymonds also has its so called seconds shops where one can get its products at a discount. It also has ‘sale’ wherein its manufacture may be selling at a discount of 20 to 50 %. Shareholders of the company get 12 and a half percent discount coupons for purchases up to a value of Rs. 2000/-.
Ready-Made Brands: Raymonds, Park Avenue and Parx
Raymonds
Raymonds makes suits, blazers and jackets, pants and Shirts and other accessories. As in cloth choice is wide in all respects. Ready-mades are available in many types, colour and design of cloth and also style and size. Stitching is of high quality. It sells its ready to wear suits under the brand name of Raymonds. Woollen shawls, blankets, sweaters and pullovers of several types and quality are sold under the brand name of Raymonds. Raymonds spells for quality in which one can have confidence. Usually Raymonds showrooms have a tailoring department too and one can get tailoring done there by an expert tailor at almost the market rate.
Park Avenue
Raymonds has been making high class shirts for a long time under the brand name Park Avenue. Park Avenue shirts are available in various sizes to suit everybody, or almost so, colours, designs and cloth to choose from. This is also true of Pants. Park Avenue products are all for formal wear; shirts, trousers, ties, socks, perfumes and other toiletries. The latter are manufacture by a sister concern goes by the name Helen Curtis. Soap, talcum powder, after shave lotion, eau de cologne, perfume and so on, one gets all as Park Avenue brand. I have used these shirts and pants and have found them very good. The price ranges from Rs. 700/- to about Rs. 1000/- for shirts and from about 1500/- to 2500/- for pants. Many times they are under some scheme and you get for less.
Parx
Parx is for casual wear. You get different sizes to fit your physique. Under this brand name also you get shirts, tees and other wear but the quality has the stamp of Raymonds. Parx is of relatively recent origin. Raymonds also put out news sometime back that it will start making women’s clothing also. I am not sure if it has.
Last word
Raymonds stands for quality which can be depended upon. Prices are high but reasonable for the quality of the product.