In the early years of independence, India's economy was fragile, and its beauty market heavily depended on imports - causing significant drain on foreign exchange. Concerned, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru personally persuaded industrialist J. R. D. Tata in 1950 to launch a swadeshi cosmetics brand. The result was Lakmé, introduced under Tata Oil Mills (TOMCO) and named after the French opera “Lakmé” - the French rendition of the goddess Lakshmi - chosen to evoke both elegance and Indian identity .

Lakmé didn’t just fill a market gap; it tailored its products - lipsticks, powders, and foundations - for Indian skin tones and climate, offering design and packaging to match global standards . Leadership played a vital role: Simone Tata, who joined as director in 1961 and later became chairperson, transformed Lakmé into a household name, steering its growth through marketing and product innovation .

Lakmé rose to over ₹1,000-crore in sales (2017–18), capturing middle-income demographics and preserving cultural authenticity while embodying India’s aspirations to produce world-class goods locally . Its journey remains a powerful illustration of how a patriotic brand can become both commercially successful and culturally resonant.