Amidst the colourful bustle of Commercial Street, one of the city’s prime shopping areas, stands the Prestige Group’s unparalleled tribute to men’s fashion – Prestige The Man Store. What began as a 250 sq ft tailoring shop in 1956 is now a 20000 sq ft four storied one-stop-shop for everything from designer western and ethnic suits to socks, perfumes and pens. What has not changed is the attention to detail and an appreciation for the personal touch, which has been carried over into the Group’s burgeoning empire in the real estate and lifestyle sectors.

The man behind the mega store is Managing Director Noaman Razack, who conceptualised the store and now spearheads the flagship store’s expansion into other cities.Prestige The Man Store is airy, uncluttered and understatedly sophisticated, with merchandise displayed across seven levels, designed to catch your eye but not overwhelm you with the sheer variety of its clothing options and brands. Apart from retailing readymade suits, shirts, trousers, casual and innerwear from the world’s premier brands, The Man Store’s forte is bespoke tailoring, perfected over half a century. There are also consulting rooms where experts tailor fashion tips and trends to fit a customer’s needs.

Families that have patronised the store for generations linger over swathes of luxe fabric, sipping coffee and taking time to put together the perfect outfit for a particular occasion. “We encourage customers to take their time over the fabrics and measurements, and they come back for trials and fittings. Without time and patience you can only buy a suit, not make one,” Razack says.

Clothes do indeed make the man, and the fashion consultants at Prestige The Man Store help men scaling the echelons of the corporate ladder plan their wardrobe to make a definitive style statement. “We hand-pick our readymade lines to appeal to both the conservative and contemporary. Most men tend to be conventional in their dressing, preferring to stick to blacks and navy blues,” Razack explains, “We push them to expand their tastes to include a wider colour palette, awaken their fashion consciousness and hone it to their sensibilities. Often, customers walk in just to ask for advice on what trousers to pair with a shirt that they had bought at the store, and what colour tie will go with a particular shirt. It is an add-on that gives our customers value for money, and is pivotal in helping us maintain a relationship with them.”

Decades in the business has given Razack a keen insight into sensibilities. The staff treats every customer like a celebrity, and take pains taken to ensure their comfort.

The store’s 17 roomy trial areas have a small table each on which the customer can place his foot to tie his shoe laces, instead of arching awkwardly over them. Small boards with instructions on how to knot a tie, the difference between pleated trousers and flat-fronts, and how to match socks to the outfit hang in the trial rooms, to help customers get the basics right. Razack’s understanding of his customers is evident here. “People are sensitive about these things. Though these tips help make all the difference, customers would rather have them subtly put across than conspicuously pointed out.”

It is these finer details that keep the store’s well-travelled, cosmopolitan patrons coming back regularly. “Our staff has been with us for decades, and recognise customers instantly. What we pride ourselves on is the personal rapport we share with them. Malls tend to be impersonal and synthetic; the personal touch is unique to our store. Malls are about the sale; we are about the customer,” Razack ventures.

Consolidating Prestige The Man Store’s prowess in the fashion sector is a programme based on tie-ups with analogous brands that complement its offerings. Called Tailor Made, the privilege programme drives home the point that dressing well is not a luxury, it is a lifestyle.