What do you do when you need 20 suits to complete a film shoot in the city? You go to CS Rao Top Tailors at Jagadamba Junction. That’s what the producers of Sundarakanda did in 1992. “Their order was ready in three days.” says Lingeshwara Rao head tailor at CSR Rao.
The store, established in 1988 is located behind SKML Shopping Mall, Jagadamba. Its speciality? Order your suits, blazers, jackets, pants and shirts on one day and pick up the tailored garments the following day! If you ask for recommendations for a gent’s tailor , chances are you will be directed to CS Rao Top Tailors.
A life-size cut our of a suited model and sounds from radio and sewing machines guide you to the first floor shop that is barely four feet wide. Completed orders sit on one side waiting to be picked up while on the other side are 15 tailors, designing, cutting and sewing. They are at it all day from 10 in the morning till 9.30 pm. The tailors come with a lot of experience.
Typically each tailor stitches eight shirts or four safari suits per day. Thirty-six-year-old K Narsingh Rao earns at least ₹ 500 per day. He says, “The demand for tailors has reduced drastically. I wouldn’t have a consistent income if had my own set-up.” On his part Lingeshwara says he is lucky to have his team.“There is absolutely no interest in the younger generation for this profession . Most of our new recruits come from the rural parts of the State,” he says.
- Has made clothes for Venkaiah Naidu and MVVS Murthy
- About the process
- Bring your cloth, select a design from their catalogue or of your choice
- Cloth is cut on first floor, tailored on second flood, out-sourced to add buttons and finally brought back for the finishing touches
- Starting prices
- Pants ₹400; shirts ₹300; blazers ₹2500; suits ₹3000
On the point
Sixty-year-old Lingeshwara himself began tailoring when he was still a teenager. By the time he was 20 he could tailor suits. His uncle CS Rao, an established tailor in Rajahmundry in the 70s taught him. “My uncle also taught me that teamwork is more valuable than individual skill. He encouraged me to start a business in Visakhapatnam.” Despite readymades taking over, his business is steady. He says, people who are finicky about exact fitting as well as old clients are the backbone of his business.
Cheruvu Ramakotaiah, an advisor to the Andhra Pradesh government, has been his regular client for last 20 years. “Even today on special occasions I prefer to wear formal clothes made by CS Rao. The fit and tailoring are done to perfection,” says. Cheruvu who orders at least three pairs of suits each year.