Industrialist and entrepreneur, a much-needed source of vision behind the modern retail and fashion landscape of India, Ratan Tata died on 9th of October 2024 at the age of 86. While he dominated the retail business at Tata, some areas of his business were from sectors of heavy industry, however, his footprint on Indian fashion, retail, and lifestyle will remain one of the most enduring legacies.
Ratan Tata was innately stylish but never a fashion icon in the classical sense; he was more a catalyst for change in India about how fashion was thought of and consumed in the country. Quietly sweeping across the horizon, his influence actually democratised stylish, top-grade clothing for millions of Indians, elevated the country’s retail standards, and helped foster a new era of accessible, modern fashion.
A visionary for Indian retailOne of the greatest contributions to the Indian fashion world was made by Ratan Tata through the successful retail arm of the Tata Group: Trent Limited. Under his leadership, it became a powerhouse for India’s fashion retail. In 1998, he launched Westside, an altogether new retail brand that transformed India’s fashion landscape. Today, Westside has become a name that many Indian households recognizs- affordable, contemporary fashion for men, women and children- available across the country. Under Tata, Westside defined a new Indian retail standard for quality and design, not just in the “big city” malls but as importantly in the big shopping centres of small towns and large cities. It put fashionable clothes within the pocket of millions.
That understanding—elevating shopping to easy, beautiful, and accessible—really helped change the way Indians consumed fashion. Westside took the worldwide designs with Indian sensibilities and brought them to a new middle-class audience that wanted, for the first time, to make a statement about themselves through their clothing.
A global reach in luxury through acquisitions
Tata’s impact went much further than just India. Tata Group’s acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover and Corus Steel had already better positioned India on the global luxury map. Not directly linked to clothing, these luxury-coupled Indian businesses elevated India’s status within the discussions of craftsmanship and style-an amorphous area associated with the fashion world.
As the Tata Group ventured into investing in the luxury and lifestyle space coupled with excellence in the retail space, it was conveyed to the world that India was a country which could immediately marry heritage with cutting-edge design—a notion that also made sense in the fashion world.
Champion of Indian craftsmanship and ethical fashion
Beyond retail and global luxury, Tata also underpinned India’s rich heritage of textiles and its craftsmanship. He supported initiatives through the Tata Trusts and other philanthropic initiatives towards preserving and promoting the traditional Indian crafts in the realm of textiles, handloom, and artisanal fabrics. It helped in not only preserving jobs but restoring appreciation for Indian craftsmanship, influencing not just modern designers but also retail brands to look inward for inspiration.
It also supported sustainable and responsible fashion in ethical practice by Tata, creating a certain base for the rise of the entire eco-friendly movement pertaining to fashion in India. When environmental impact in the industry began to be more visibly sensitized, Tata Group’s initiatives were started to use more eco-friendly materials and responsible means of production, guiding the entire industry toward sustainability without clearly stating it.
A timeless style and personal elegance
While he was no sartorial trendsetter, Ratan Tata’s style exuded understated elegance and timeless sophistication. The dignified, subtle cutter-suited businessman contrasted rather starkly with the flashy fashion trends that are the hallmark of the mass-market apparel business. As the above photograph illustrates, true elegance must come from simplicity, quality, and careful attention to detail, not from style fads.
At the same time, however, many were admiring Tata because, despite his stern and classical face, he had the unique ability to project authority and warmth through calm demeanor and elegant presence. He was a role model to countless professionals and business leaders across India, and his sartorial choices underlined his larger vision of a modern, confident, and ethical India.
A lasting legacy
Ratan Tata’s legacy is no less than that of accessibility of fashionable clothing and shaping modern retail. Actually, he has had an overarching influence over Indian craftsmanship, luxury, and ethical fashion. Contributions were made to alter the experience of fashion for millions of Indians as the industry became more inclusive, innovative, and responsible.
Tata will find his place in history for the management at Tata Group, making waves in the fashion world, this time with sharper, more refined, and world-class approaches toward retailing from India. He had always believed that fashion is a tool for self-expression and pride in culture, and this will certainly be something to inspire generations to come.
The family, colleagues, and the millions of Indians whose lives he touched with his vision for a better, more stylish future- all of these remain behind, and his legacy, founded on ethical business practices, love for Indian heritage, and passion for quality, continues to reverberate in the world of fashion and beyond.
Rest in peace, Sir Ratan Tata, your vision shaped the fabric of Indian fashion for generations.