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Jump into the brand wagon
For some of the youngsters, it’s more about being comfortable than looking stylish. They say ‘branded items are better in quality’.
With Dubai being the second most favourable market for retailers and brands, we asked a few youngsters if they are brand-obsessed/conscious. Most of them said they buy branded clothing and other items because they are better in quality and they look good. A few of them buy brands because of peer pressure and some buy brands only when they come discounted.
In a report from CB Richard Ellis, a global property adviser, Dubai attracted 53.8 per cent of the global retail brands surveyed, narrowly missing out to London, which claimed the number one position with 55.5 per cent.
Take 17-year-old Indian student Karan Gurnani for example. He said: “Yes, I am brand conscious, but not completely. If I am buying clothes, I see to it that the fabric is of very good quality. If not, I don’t pick it up. I sometimes pick up clothes from Banana Republic only because I love the feel of the clothing. It’s all about quality — if the product is of good quality, I don’t mind spending any amount on it. The most I have spent is Dh6,000 on a watch.”
Another Indian, Preston Pias, 17, agrees with Gurnani. “See, you basically pay for what you get. The thing with branded apparel is that the material and the stitching are much better. If I really like the product, I pick it up, no matter what the price is. The most I have paid for a T-shirt is Dh500 and Dh1,500 on watch.” But Iranian national Shahriar Kiarash, 18, thinks that only if you have the money, must you spend it. “I am a student, so I live like one. I like to shop for apparels ... yes, but I look for discounts in brands sometimes. I like the apparel produced by brands like Zara and Adidas. People here are generally wealthy. If they have the money, I see no harm in them spending it. The most I have spent on a shirt is Dh100,” said Kiarash.
Sri Lankan national Nicole Pereira says that she is brand conscious. “The most I have spend on a bag is Dh1,500. I look for comfort, but sometimes when the product looks really good, I don’t mind splurging.”
Serbian student Alexander Vukasovic, 18, said he spends the most on technology and his sneakers. “I am not really brand-obsessed. But I don’t compromise when I buy my sneakers or technology. That is where I spend the most. When it comes to clothes, as long as I feel comfortable I don’t mind buying anything that is not branded as well. My friends think the same way,” said Vukasovic.
Dhanusha Gokulan
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