CHENNAI: They have been the ‘Kings of Wool’ since 1905 and City Express experienced the warmth of Joonus Sait & Sons, a shop specialising in winter wear at Rattan Bazaar on a rainy day. Usman Sait (the fourth generation owner of the shop) welcomed us with “Do you need a raincoat? Well, you’re in the right place!”
The building, which is now part of the city’s heritage, has wooden shelves stacked with woollen wears, caps, thermals, raincoats and more. Started by Joonus Sait, Usman’s great-grand father after the family migrated from Bellary, Karnataka, due to the outbreak of cholera and typhoid, the shop during its initial stages sold rayon, silk materials, shirts and suits. With the Madras High Court as its neighbour, the shop earlier had a tailoring unit and used to stitch barrister coats. “We used to sell shirts and also got lots of orders for suits and coats for advocates and judges, but that changed later,” recalls Usman.
In a city where winter barely lasts 2-3 months, the shop witnessed a huge demand for warm woollen clothes within a few years after its establishment. “Even today, many ask us how we manage to sell woollen clothes in Chennai! Well, what can I say? Sometimes it’s surreal for me too!” he laughs.
The first five Raymond franchises in the city were owned by the Sait family and Usman beams with pride as he says, “It has been over a century and I can confidently say that we are number one when it comes to winter clothing.” Apart from their home brand, they also sell international brands such as Monte Carlo and Casa Blanca. “I hand pick the best pieces from our manufactures in Ludhiana,” he says.
Usman took over the family business 40 years ago and today, his sons Naumaan and Safwaan — are part of the business too. “My eldest son Naumaan takes care of the shop in Pursawalkam. My father used to bring me to the shop when I was in school and today, I don’t need a tape to measure the cloth nor do I need a special method to find out the quality of the wool. I can tell it by seeing, feeling and touching it. That’s experience,” he smiles.
As we talk, the shop gets crowded with customers of all age groups like students who are flying abroad and old customers buying woollen wear for their children because the shop is ‘lucky’. “Students who travel to foreign countries for education, people travelling to places like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Manasarovar and also families that plan for a holiday come here to buy warm clothes,” says Usman as Naumaan and his mother, Sulekha, enter the store. “We ask the duration of their travel, budget and their requirements. According to this, we show the customers 100-150 pieces before they make their decision,” says Sulekha, “Sometimes there have been instances where customers come even after the shop’s closing time. We don’t stop our staff from going home, instead we help the customers!” she smiles.
A few years ago, clothes that used to cost around `30 (approx) for a metre has shot up to a beginning price of `500 to `7,000, the reason being material and labour cost. “Times have changed and the city has changed a lot. But some of our older clients, who used to buy from us, still shop here for their children,” says Usman.
Though the shop has undergone a few changes, it still holds its old-world charm. As we say our goodbyes, Usman says, “We’re the only ‘Joonus Sait & Sons’ in the city, with a branch in Purasawalkam. If you come across any shop with the same name, consider it fake!” he warns.