The Indian business and retail landscape mourns the loss of a pioneering figure. Simone Tata (nee Dunoyer), the Swiss national who married into the Tata family and became the driving force behind iconic brands like Lakme and Westside, passed away in Mumbai on Friday. She was 95 years old.
From Geneva to Mumbai: The Making of a Beauty Icon
Born and raised in Geneva, Switzerland, Simone's early life was steeped in lessons of grace and presentation. In a 2017 interview with Vogue, she recalled a pivotal childhood moment before a piano recital. A self-described tomboy, she was astonished when her mother applied cream, blush, and powder to her face. "I was transformed," she said, sparking a lifelong fascination with the power of beauty and cosmetics.
Her destiny intertwined with India when she met Tata Group stalwart Naval Tata in Geneva. She was working for Air India, then a Tata enterprise, while Naval frequently visited the city for his role with the International Labour Organization. After her first visit to India in 1953 at age 23, their bond deepened despite a 26-year age difference and Naval's previous marriage. They wed in 1955, making Mumbai her permanent home while she retained her Swiss passport. She embraced her role as stepmother to Naval's sons, Jimmy and Ratan Tata, and later welcomed her own son, Noel Tata, now Chairman of Tata Trusts.
Building Lakme: Challenging Taboos and Defining Indian Beauty
Simone Tata's entry into business began in 1961 when she joined Lakme. The brand itself had an unusual origin, born from a request by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who was concerned about Indian women spending precious foreign exchange on imported cosmetics. Named after the French opera 'Lakme' (which references the Hindu goddess Lakshmi), the brand found its true champion in Simone.
She marketed Lakme in a way that directly spoke to the modern Indian woman, often challenging societal norms. A famous campaign conceived by the agency Rediffusion marked a turning point. Advertiser Kamlesh Pandey recounted how the stark black-and-white campaign posed the bold question: "Is it bad to look good?" Initially resistant to the unconventional approach, Simone was famously persuaded by a fearless account executive. She ultimately approved the award-winning campaign, demonstrating her willingness to adapt and trust disruptive ideas that resonated with a changing India.
The Westside Legacy: Pivoting from Beauty to Fashion Retail
In 1996, following a Tata Group restructuring, Lakme was sold to Hindustan Unilever (HUL). Characteristically forward-thinking, Simone channeled the proceeds from this sale to acquire the British retail chain Littlewoods. This strategic move laid the foundation for the group's foray into organized fashion retail. Littlewoods was soon rebranded as Westside, which under her guidance grew into one of India's most successful and beloved department store chains.
For decades, Simone oversaw the group's key consumer businesses, including Lakme and Trent (Westside's parent company), and served on the boards of Tata Industries and the Sir Ratan Tata Institute. She retired in 2006, described by former Tata Group director Ishaat Hussain as "a gracious lady and an outstanding entrepreneur."
Simone Tata remained largely out of the public eye after retirement, making occasional appearances at family and business events. Her funeral mass will be held at the Cathedral of the Holy Name in Colaba, a church she regularly attended. Her legacy endures not just in the brands she built but in the way she empowered Indian women to embrace beauty and style on their own terms.
