Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Branded for good
|
More luxury brands please, we are Indians. The country stands third for splurging on high-end products. Sangeetha Devi Dundoo tracks the trend in Hyderabad
|
Pret-a-porter A glimpse of fall/winter 2008/09 ready-to-wear collections from Chanel
A Christian Dior compact, MAC lip gloss and a Chanel moisturiser that you tucked away in your Hidesign formal bag come in handy to freshen up before the late afternoon board meeting. Throw in a Louis Vuitton clutch in your car backseat if there’
;s an after hours party to attend. Some years ago, this might have sounded way too bling. This is for real now and it’s official too. According to the latest Neilsen Global Luxury Brands Survey across Asia Pacific, India ranks third in purchasing designer brands at 35 per cent after Greece at 46 per cent and Hong Long at 38 per cent.
“Oh wow! Does India rank number three? I am not surprised. I see even the middle and upper middle class splurging on branded products now and then. I know a young girl who recently got a job. Instead of buying herself a gold chain she’s considering saving up money to buy a Louis Vuitton bag. Personally speaking, I like good products whether they are branded or not,” says socialite Pinky Reddy. Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Diesel, Armani, Versace… you’ll find the well-heeled flaunting these and more at high-profile dos in the city.
The Neilsen survey reveals that Indian consumers prefer Calvin Klein, followed by Gucci, Diesel, Christian Dior and DKNY. In fact, India ranks third highest globally for purchase of Gucci products and sixth for Calvin Klein, ninth for Diesel, and tenth for Fendi. Reasons for brand affinity range from status symbol to the urge for better quality.
“Your peer group does play a role. Hyderabad’s social circuit today is buzzing with people who have designer products. I find Elvis, Prada and Gucci bags everywhere. I don’t see the upper crust with non-branded products,” says fashion coordinator Kamini Saraf. High-end brands are a status symbol for a few and an aspirational value for others, she says. “A small section in the city is aware of brands. There’s another section that’s learning about brands. Sometimes it’s tough to differentiate a fake from an original.”
The city is yet to boast of flagship stores of many international brands but many believe the day isn’t far off. “People are more aware thanks to magazines, international television channels and frequent travels. In fact, we are considering business propositions of bringing down brands like Armani and Versace,” says architect-turned-businessman Aashish Ibrahim.
Luxury brands are sought after not just for clothing, cosmetics and accessories but also for interiors. Frequent travellers to South East Asia come back with artefacts, designer handicrafts and even furniture. “Sometimes, the goodies arrive to India in a container,” says Kamini.
Some are picky about buying the latest products of the season and prefer buying them abroad. But when a wedding or a high-profile do is round the corner, the flagship stores come in handy.
Hyderabad is still waking up to premier brands and will find its balance, feels Parvati Reddy, programme mentor, YFLO. “With brands, you feel assured of quality and the status symbol is a perk. But I do feel bad when teens pressurise their parents to buy them expensive products just driven by peer pressure,” she says. Having shopped abroad frequently, she says, “If you visit branded stores at New York Fifth Avenue, you can pick up the latest collections that may not have arrived in India. I shopped for designer handicrafts from Bali for my home.”
The bling thing
Pret-a-porter A glimpse of fall/winter 2008/09 ready-to-wear collections from Chanel
India ranks third (35 per cent) after Greece (46 per cent) and Hong Kong (38 per cent) for purchase of designer brands according to the latest Nielsen Global Luxury Brands Survey across Asia Pacific region.
Indian consumers prefer Calvin Klein, followed by Gucci, Diesel, Christian Dior and DKNY. In fact, India ranks third highest globally for purchase of Gucci products and sixth for Calvin Klein, ninth for Diesel, and tenth for Fendi.
Reasons for brand affinity range from status symbol to the urge for better quality.
The top brands Indian consumers spend on are Calvin Klein (34 per cent), Gucci (25 per cent), Diesel (24 per cent), Christian Dior (16 per cent), and DKNY (10 per cent).
India ranks third highest globally in the purchase of Gucci products, sixth for Calvin Klein, ninth for Diesel and 10th for Fendi.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
