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Women Leaders in Luxury in India

There are many women leaders in India, a country that had its first woman Prime Minister in 1966, where so many other countries haven’t seen even one. In the luxury industry, there is even more dominance of women. We list 5 such examples of inspiration

By: Soumya Jain

The luxury industry is a tough market. The product has to be exemplary, unique, handcrafted, and its rules for marketing are also much more sophisticated and unique as compared to those of mass or budget brands.

It’s no wonder then, that with their innate love for design, style and hospitality, women have dominated luxury boardrooms in India. Here are five women leaders in the Indian luxury industry, according to Fortune India in 2018, who made headlines in luxury magazines in India for various reasons.

1.      Mira Kulkarni – Number 22 in Fortune India’s ‘Most Powerful Women in Business’ list, Mira Kulkarni is Chairman and Managing Director at Mountain Valley Springs. You would more popularly know her as the head of the brand Forest Essentials. Who hasn’t fallen in love with her mogra incensed perfumes and mists? Though the brand is widely covered in luxury magazines in India, you wouldn’t have heard as much about Mrs. Kulkarni. She is a firm, strong individual.
2.      Anita Dongre – Listed at number 24 in the same list by Fortune India, Anita Dongre is pretty much a household name now. With her multiple sub-brands, 300 stores worldwide, and love for elegant yet bright colored designs, fashion enthusiasts love her creativity. A regular staple in fashion magazines and blogs, Ms. Dongre is one of the biggest fashion brands to emerge from India. Kudos!
3.      Ritu Kumar – Although at number 37 in Fortune India’s list, we think she could have been a little higher up. Having celebrated 50 years in the Indian fashion industry, she is the original textile revivalist in India, way before sustainability became a fad. Her loyalty to authentic weaves and fabrics such as Benarasi textiles has been hailed as great importance in the industry. Her designs are regularly featured in luxury magazines in India, while she is also featured as a representative of India and its textile heritage.
4.      Priya Paul – Directly after Mrs. Kumar comes Priya Paul at 38 in Fortune India’s list. Chairperson of Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, Mrs. Paul is in expansion mode after a few quiet years. Heading one of the first luxury boutique hotels chain in India, The Park hotels, Mrs. Paul has her finger on the pulse of hospitality. Her business acumen is sharp. And she deserves to be, again, higher up in the list.
5.      Gauri Khan – A new entrant in the list, she has been placed at number 42 by Fortune India. Mrs. Khan has proven that she is much more than Shahrukh Khan’s wife. A design leader, Mrs. Khan is designing nurseries and stores with as much gusto as party rooms. Her modern design and neutral aesthetics have wowed the film fraternity and industrialists community in India.

Here’s to girl power! And seeing more names of women in the Indian luxury business!

Soumya Jain is the Chief Editor & CEO of LuxuryFacts.com – the first and only luxury blog and magazine in India. She is also the Co-Editor of ‘The Luxury Market in India: Maharajas to Masses’, published by Palgrave Macmillan and launched in September 2012. The book is a window into the highly complex Indian luxury market. Soumya is also a visiting lecturer for luxury marketing and online journalism at leading educational institutes in India. She has been invited to speak at conferences and address industry colleagues about the Indian luxury market. Recognising her knowledge of the market, she has been quoted by media such as Fast Company, Wall Street Journal & Financial Times among others, while also contributing articles on luxury in various publications.
Location: India

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