tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33063530.post292333535667133483..comments2017-01-31T09:44:39.885-07:00Comments on Raison d'être: Trade Fairly: Putting Consumerism in its PlaceRadhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02949846528737429571noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33063530.post-84372391483980256272008-03-22T15:52:00.000-06:002008-03-22T15:52:00.000-06:00This was a comment a friend of mine (Madhumita Mun...This was a comment a friend of mine (Madhumita Mund Rao) wrote me on facebook:<BR/>I read your interesting blog "Trade Fairly: Putting Consumerism in its Place" . The trend is forever changing. I will be able to comment on the Indian scenario. While you talk about fare price, this may be true for one section of people, where as there are still some section of people (the middle class/ pseudo – trying to fit into the elite crowd) who get a kick out of owning rare and expensive stuff (with fare price theory ), which may not necessary be a branded product but must be an authentic product, such as “A Tush shawl” an original Kashmiri carpet, Antique artifacts, hand embroidered sarees, jamawar shawls, Tankha paintings – so on and so forth. At the same time with changing trend, consumers, especially in Asia are getting too brand conscious. This reminds me of this book by Radha Chadha and Paul Husband “The cult of luxury brand” The authors have explored this unusual phenomena “luxe-plosion” that is rocking the Asian consumers, not only the richie-rich but also secretaries and junior executives. It seems in Tokyo 94 % of women in their 20s own a Louis Vuitton bag (I don’t own one yet!). Even India, the new kid on the luxury block, has three-month waiting lists for hot items (luxury cars, cell phones, ipods). People in their 30s are crazy about Blackberrys. Hong Kong boasts more Gucci and Hermes stores than New York or Paris. China’s luxury market is growing with such gusto that it will single-handedly become the biggest by 2014.Radhikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02949846528737429571noreply@blogger.com