Interview | Simone Dominici on KIKO Milano’s India Expansion and the Future of Beauty

India’s beauty market is drawing global brands looking to connect with consumers who increasingly see make-up as a form of personal expression. KIKO Milano aims to pair its international product portfolio with an immersive shopping experience that encourages consumers to experiment with colour, texture and finish. The Italian beauty brand’s new flagship store at Jio World Drive in Mumbai, inaugurated by CEO Simone Dominici on October 7, 2026, marks its next phase of growth in India.

Founded in Milan in 1997, KIKO Milano has built its identity around Italian heritage, high-performance formulations and trend-led beauty at accessible premium price points. With over 1,400 stores across 75 international markets, the brand is strengthening its presence in India through dedicated retail spaces and its partnership with Reliance Retail. In this interview with Outlook Luxe, Dominici discusses the Indian consumer, the role of physical stores and how the brand is approaching local relevance.

Building a Beauty Destination

The Mumbai flagship is designed to offer consumers a more complete experience of the brand, allowing them to explore its range beyond familiar products. Dominici sees the store as an opportunity to encourage discovery in a market where beauty and fashion increasingly intersect.

“Mumbai is one of India’s most influential beauty and fashion markets, and Jio World Drive is a destination where people come expecting discovery,” said Dominici. “What makes this flagship stand out is the completeness of the experience,” he added.

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The store allows shoppers to compare shades, experiment with textures and finishes, and explore a wider selection of products. Its opening also coincides with the launch of Sparkle Stories, KIKO Milano’s limited-edition Diwali collection developed specifically for India. The festive range sits alongside international favourites such as the 3D Hydra Lipgloss and Unlimited Double Touch.

The collection reflects the brand’s effort to bring its Italian beauty identity into conversation with India’s festive traditions. Rather than treating local relevance as a separate initiative, KIKO Milano is incorporating it into the product experience, giving consumers a seasonal reason to engage with the brand.

Local Relevance, Global Identity

KIKO Milano has also opened stores in New York and Miami, expanding its presence in major beauty markets. In India, the next phase involves growing its retail footprint while reaching consumers through Tira, Reliance Retail’s beauty platform. The approach combines physical discovery with online access, giving customers different ways to explore the brand.

Dominici points to Madonna’s ‘The KIKO Show’ campaign as an expression of the company’s Italian DNA and its emphasis on bold, authentic self-expression. The global campaign provides a consistent brand identity, while local collaborations help connect that message with Indian audiences.

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“Madonna’s ‘The KIKO Show’ campaign celebrates our Italian DNA through bold and authentic self-expression, a message that strongly resonates in India,” said Dominici.

Asked whether KIKO Milano is considering an Indian face for the brand, he highlighted its existing work with local influencers and cultural partners, while leaving the door open to voices that align with its values.

The wider strategy is to balance global recognition with a more locally responsive presence. “Our next chapter here is about local relevance: expanding access through our stores and Tira, and creating moments that matter, like Sparkle Stories for Diwali,” Dominici shared.

With the Mumbai flagship, KIKO Milano is making product discovery central to its India expansion. Its next challenge will be to translate that in-store experience, alongside seasonal collections and local partnerships, into a lasting connection with Indian beauty consumers.