Raymond Group
Indian diversified branded-fabric, apparel, retail, and engineering group best known for suiting and the Raymond clothing brand.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Raymond Group is an Indian diversified business group whose best-known activities are the manufacture and retailing of branded fabrics, formalwear, and lifestyle apparel. The group traces its origins to a small woollen mill established near Thane Creek in 1925. After Lala Kailashpat Singhania took over the business in 1944, the enterprise developed from a textile manufacturer into a consumer-facing fashion and retail company, while retaining a substantial industrial and engineering presence. The group’s core textile business has historically centered on wool and wool-blended suiting fabrics. Raymond states that its manufacturing capacity includes up to 31 million metres of wool and wool-blended fabrics. Its positioning has been built around Indian tailoring traditions, formal dressing, fabric quality, and increasingly broad lifestyle offerings. The Raymond brand has been extended into ready-to-wear clothing, made-to-measure services, designer wear, women’s apparel, cosmetics, toiletries, and other personal-care categories. Retail is a major part of the group’s identity. Its branded apparel and fabric portfolio is distributed through The Raymond Shop, an exclusive retail network that has expanded across India and into selected overseas markets. The network has been described as exceeding 700 stores across more than 200 cities, while an earlier expansion milestone reported more than 900 stores across over 500 Indian towns and cities in 2018. The retail portfolio has included Raymond, Raymond Made to Measure, Parx, Ethnix, Park Avenue, Park Avenue Woman, ColorPlus, and KamaSutra, among other businesses and product lines. Raymond’s history includes several periods of category and geographic expansion. It introduced Trovine fabric in 1967 as a lightweight and more comfortable option for Indian summer conditions, opened a new worsted-fabric facility at Jalgaon in 1979, and opened its first overseas showroom in Oman in 1990. During the late 1990s, it entered or expanded in areas including denim, ready-made garments, personal care, sexual-wellness products, and air-charter services. Gautam Singhania became chairman and managing director in 2000, and Raymond acquired ColorPlus in 2002. The group has also pursued technical differentiation in textiles. In 2015, Raymond reported production of Super 250s and other advanced fabrics, presenting this as a significant achievement for the global textile industry. Its international retail footprint later included an outlet in Karachi, Pakistan, opened in 2013 and described as the first Indian brand retail operation in that market. Raymond has not been limited to textiles and consumer products. Its wider interests have included engineering files and tools, prophylactics, aviation services, and, from 2019, real estate under Raymond Realty. The real-estate initiative was announced around a proposed development of mid-income and premium housing in Thane, supported by the group’s substantial land holdings in the area. Raymond therefore combines a heritage textile brand with a broader group structure spanning manufacturing, branded consumer goods, retail, and property development.
History
Raymond Group began in 1925 as a small woollen mill located near Thane Creek in the Bombay Presidency region. Its early identity was industrial rather than retail-focused, with the business built around woollen manufacturing. In 1944, Lala Kailashpat Singhania took over the enterprise. Under the Singhania family, the company developed into a larger textile business and eventually became Raymond Ltd., with the Raymond name increasingly associated with quality suiting fabrics in India. A major step toward consumer branding came in 1958, when the company opened its first exclusive showroom at King’s Corner in Ballard Estate, Mumbai. This established a direct retail channel for Raymond fabrics and helped connect the manufacturer with customers and tailoring businesses. The company continued to adapt its products to Indian climate and consumer preferences. In 1967, it launched Trovine, a fabric promoted for its cool and comfortable characteristics in Indian summers. To support growth in worsted woollen fabrics, Raymond established a manufacturing facility in Jalgaon in 1979. The company later began international retail development, opening its first overseas showroom in Oman in 1990. During the late 1990s, the group broadened its interests beyond traditional suiting. Its expansion included ready-made garments, denim manufacturing, the KamaSutra brand, Raymond Aviation, and other consumer and service businesses. Gautam Singhania was appointed chairman and managing director in 2000. In 2002, Raymond acquired ColorPlus, adding an established apparel label to its branded-fashion portfolio. The group continued to organize its consumer businesses around multiple apparel and lifestyle brands, including Raymond, Raymond Made to Measure, Parx, Ethnix, Park Avenue, Park Avenue Woman, and ColorPlus. The Raymond Shop became the principal retail vehicle for many of these offerings, combining fabric sales, clothing, and tailoring-related services. International retail expansion continued during the 2010s. In 2013, Raymond opened an outlet in Karachi, described as the first Indian brand to establish a retail presence in Pakistan. In 2015, the company reported that it had become the first textile company to produce Super 250s fabrics and other innovative fabrics, reinforcing its emphasis on premium textile engineering and fine suiting materials. By 2018, Raymond reported more than 900 stores across over 500 towns and cities in India, reflecting a rapid expansion of its branded retail network. The group’s activities also extended into cosmetics and toiletries, engineering files and tools, prophylactics, and air-charter operations. These businesses gave Raymond a diversified structure rather than that of a single-category apparel company. In 2019, Raymond announced its entry into real estate through Raymond Realty. The initial plan focused on mid-income and premium housing in Thane, where the group held significant land assets. The move represented a strategic attempt to use the group’s property holdings while adding a new business vertical alongside textiles, apparel, retail, and engineering. Raymond Group’s historical development is therefore characterized by a progression from woollen manufacturing to branded textiles, exclusive retail, apparel and lifestyle categories, technical fabric production, international expansion, and property development.
- 2019
Raymond Realty announced
[1]The group announced a real-estate venture focused initially on mid-income and premium housing in Thane.
- 2018
Retail network exceeds 900 stores
[1]Raymond reported crossing 900 stores across more than 500 towns and cities in India.
- 2015
Super 250s fabric production reported
[1]The company reported production of Super 250s and other innovative fabrics.
- 2013
Karachi retail outlet opened
[1]Raymond opened an outlet in Karachi, extending its retail presence into Pakistan.
- 2002
ColorPlus acquired
[1]Raymond acquired ColorPlus, strengthening its branded apparel portfolio.
- 2000
Gautam Singhania becomes chairman and managing director
[1]Gautam Singhania was appointed chairman and managing director.
- 1990
First overseas showroom opens in Oman
[1]The group opened its first overseas showroom in Oman.
- 1979
Jalgaon manufacturing facility established
[1]Raymond established a new facility in Jalgaon to support rising demand for worsted woollen fabrics.
- 1967
Trovine fabric launched
[1]The company introduced Trovine, a fabric designed to offer a cooler and more comfortable wearing experience in Indian summer conditions.
- 1958
First exclusive Raymond showroom
[1]Raymond opened its first exclusive showroom at King’s Corner in Ballard Estate, Mumbai.
Products and positioning
A heritage Indian textile and lifestyle group positioned around premium suiting, formalwear, tailoring, fabric expertise, and a broad branded retail network, with additional interests in engineering, personal care, sexual wellness, aviation, and real estate.
Suiting fabrics and apparel
Raymond
The group’s core heritage brand, centered on wool, wool-blended, and worsted suiting fabrics together with formal and lifestyle apparel. Raymond has historically competed through fabric quality, tailoring relevance, premium positioning, and adaptation to Indian climatic conditions.
Custom tailoring
Raymond Made to Measure
A made-to-measure offering providing customized formalwear and tailored clothing. It extends Raymond’s traditional fabric expertise into a more service-led proposition for customers seeking individualized fit and garment specifications.
Branded retail
The Raymond Shop
Raymond’s exclusive retail format, selling fabrics, apparel, and related lifestyle products. The network has expanded across India and selected overseas markets and has served as the principal retail channel for several Raymond Group brands.
Menswear and personal care
Park Avenue
A lifestyle brand associated with men’s apparel, formalwear, grooming, cosmetics, and toiletries within Raymond’s broader consumer portfolio.
Apparel
ColorPlus
An apparel brand acquired by Raymond in 2002 and incorporated into the group’s branded fashion portfolio.
Casual apparel
Parx
A Raymond Group apparel label associated with more casual and contemporary clothing than the group’s traditional formal suiting proposition.
Ethnic and designer wear
Ethnix
A brand in the group’s designer and ethnic-wear portfolio, extending Raymond’s fashion activities beyond conventional western formalwear.
Prophylactics and sexual wellness
KamaSutra
A prophylactics and sexual-wellness brand associated with Raymond’s diversification into personal-care and intimate-consumer products.
Residential real estate · 2019
Raymond Realty
The group’s real-estate venture announced in 2019, initially focused on developing mid-income and premium housing in Thane using part of Raymond’s land holdings.
Engineering products
Engineering files and tools
An industrial business area within the diversified group, separate from its consumer textile and apparel operations.
Brand decisions
2019
Entry into residential real estateStrategyBackground
Raymond sought to diversify beyond textiles, apparel, and retail while making use of substantial land holdings in the Thane area.
Action taken
The group announced Raymond Realty, with an initial plan for mid-income and premium housing development on approximately 20 acres in Thane.
Aftermath
The announcement established real estate as an additional strategic business vertical for the group. The cited reference does not provide verified subsequent financial outcomes.
2002
Acquisition of ColorPlusM&ABackground
Raymond sought to broaden its branded apparel portfolio beyond its core suiting identity.
Action taken
Raymond acquired the ColorPlus apparel brand.
Aftermath
ColorPlus became part of Raymond’s collection of branded fashion businesses.
1967
Launch of Trovine fabricProduct launchBackground
Indian consumers needed suiting materials better suited to hot seasonal conditions.
Action taken
Raymond introduced Trovine, promoted as a cool and comfortable fabric for Indian summers.
Aftermath
The launch illustrated Raymond’s strategy of adapting textile products to local climate and usage conditions.
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