It is with deep sadness that I write this tribute to Simone Naval Tata, who has passed away at the age of 95. For me—and for many of us in India’s fashion and retail community—she was not just a corporate stalwart but a visionary who shaped entire industries and inspired generations.
When Simone Tata came to India from Geneva in the 1950s, few could have imagined that she would go on to become one of the most influential figures in the country’s consumer and retail journey. From the moment she took charge of Lakmé in the 1960s, she gave Indian women something they had never truly had before—a beauty brand of their own, designed for Indian skin tones, styles, and aspirations. She steered Lakmé from a fledgling unit of Tata Oil Mills into a national powerhouse, synonymous with elegance and trust.
But Simone Tata’s genius lay not just in building brands—it was in anticipating change. In the mid-1990s, when she divested Lakmé to Hindustan Unilever, she didn’t see it as an exit. Instead, she saw it as a new beginning. With the proceeds, she founded Trent Limited and launched Westside, India’s first homegrown department store chain. At a time when modern retail was only a concept, she imagined and executed what would become one of the most successful lifestyle chains in the country.
Simone Tata was more than a chairperson; she was a mentor, a role model, and a quiet but determined leader who opened doors for women and professionals across industries. Her hallmark was grace and clarity, and her decisions always reflected foresight—whether it was bringing structure to India’s beauty industry or creating retail experiences that continue to thrive decades later.
I also remember her presence at India Fashion Forum and Images Retail Conferences. She wasn’t just a guest of honour—she engaged deeply, often reminding us that the real strength of an industry lay not only in products or profits but in building institutions, nurturing people, and setting benchmarks. For those of us who had the privilege of watching her at these forums, it was a masterclass in vision and humility.
Her legacy is everywhere: in the shelves of Westside, in the history of Lakmé, and in the confidence of Indian consumers who embraced modern beauty and fashion because of her pioneering efforts.
As we bid goodbye to Simone Tata, I can only say that Indian retail has lost its true matriarch. But her story, her courage, and her vision will live on in every conversation we have about fashion, retail, and the consumer future of India.
She leaves behind not just Noel Tata, her son, but also a family of entrepreneurs, professionals, and dreamers who will forever be grateful for the path she paved.
Thank you, Simone Tata—for Lakmé, for Westside, for Trent, for your wisdom at our forums, and for teaching us that building brands is ultimately about building trust.
