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Peter Simon (born August 1949)^[1] is a British entrepreneur. He is the founder and owner of fashion retailer Monsoon Accessorize. He is also the founder of The Monsoon Trust, a registered charity in support of women and children in Asia. He is a noted collector of post-war and contemporary art.^[2]

Simon was born in Sri Lanka but grew up in Dalkey and Killiney, Ireland. His mother was from Kilmallock; his father was head of Shell's Irish operations.^[3][4][5]

Simon was educated in St Gerard's School in Bray and at an English boarding school. He left education prior to taking A-levels. He applied to join the British Army before taking a job as an encyclopedia salesman in the East End of London, followed by a sales job with Bird's Eye.^[6]

He spent the summer of 1969 living in a nudist colony in the Pityusic Island of Formentera.^[7] Returning to London, Simon noticed a fashion trend for shaggy Afghan coats, after the style of clothing worn by The Beatles on the cover of Sgt. Pepper. Simon imported a similar-looking garment made from the wool of a "shoat", a goat crossed with a sheep, found on the Maltese island of Gozo.^[8] He sold the coats through Harrods and other outlets in addition to his market stall in Portobello Market, London.^[9][10][11] He also drew commerical inspiration on a road trip from London to Rajasthan, India via Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan, where he noticed hand-block-printed clothing worn by locals.^[12]

In 1973 Simon opened Monsoon's first physical outlet in Beauchamp Place, in London's Knightsbridge district.^[13] It was at his first shop that he met the model, actress and Jane Seymour, who had just finished filming a role in the James Bond movie Live and Let Die. Beginning a romantic relationship, Simon invited Seymour to Jaipur in India, where Seymour modelled for a Monsoon ad campaign that Simon would later credit as the trigger for Monsoon's expansion.^[7]

Positioned as an ethnic-inspired mainstream female fashion brand, the firm grew rapidly from the late 1970s onwards.^[14] In 1984, Simon opened the first branch of accessories retailer Accessorize.

In 1998 Simon floated the combined company, netting him £85 million.^[15][14] In 2007, Simon bought back all shares in the company held by external investors to become 100 percent owner, having previously tried to acquire these shares in 2003 and 2004.^[16][17] The Sunday Times estimates his current net worth at £480m.^[18]

In 2014, Simon invested in homewear brand Loaf.^[19] Other investments have included stakes in the Moscow department store GUM and the Russian gold producer Highland Gold. He has also invested in film production and commercial property.^[20][21]

See also: The Monsoon Trust

Monsoon Accessorize operates a foundation to help under-privileged women and children in Asia. Its partners include the Indian charity Seva Mandir, which works to keep girls in education and to provide access to antenatal care and inoculations. The Monsoon Trust also works with Sadhna, a charity that gives needle-workers access to bank accounts so that their cash wages are not wrongfully appropriated.^[22][13]

In 2017 the Trust received donations and legacies of £332k, with public and private donations totalling £102k.^[23]

In the 1990s Simon bought and restored the previously derelict Electric Cinema on Portobello Road,^[24] adding a private club and restaurant. The building is now operated by Soho House.^[20] Simon returns to Portobello market once a year to sell clothing from a stall, on behalf of the Monson Trust.^[20]

Simon began collecting art in the mid 1990s, in consultation with the art dealer Ivor Braka. In 2000, Simon founded the Monsoon Art Collection in consultation with the curators Thomas Dane and Nicholas Serota.^[25][26][27] The Monsoon collection's first piece was Kimsooja's Bottari Truck. The collection is known for its international art, but also includes pieces by Bacon, Doig, Koons, Warhol, Milhazes, Boetti, Degas and Bomberg.^[28] Selected pieces are on display at Monsoon's West London headquarters. The collection is funded privately by the Simon family.^[29]

In 2005 a portrait of Simon by the photographer Steve Poole was donated by Poole to The National Portrait Gallery.^[30]

Simon is a trustee of the Tate Gallery.^[2][31][32]

He was formerly married to Kate Simon; the couple divorced in 2000.^[33][34] He is father to six children. In 2017 his son George was killed in a car crash.^[9]

Simon's associates include the financier Jim Mellon.^[35] In 2013 Simon co-signed a letter from 500 UK business leaders supporting David Cameron's attempt to remain in the EU under renegotiated membership.^[36]

Simon has homes in Ibiza, New York, Switzerland and London.^[37][38]