Brands have become an essential part of our lives. We see hundreds of them every day, we use branded products, we eat branded foods, etc, without actually noticing it’s branded. Brands don’t have to always be expensive; we use brands from the toothpaste we use in the morning to the air conditioner, we turn on before going to bed. However, we do debate branded vs non branded, every now.
There are two categories of people. One side believes that brands are everything and you can only look good when you wear branded clothes and use branded products. On the other hand, other people believe that it’s not about the brands, it’s about how you present yourself. There have been heavy arguments on both sides. While both make valid points, there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer.
The people who belong to the category of believing brands are everything say that it’s about the prestige that comes with it. Branded products, especially clothes, shoes, accessories, most of them are priced at higher levels as compared to normal brands or unbranded products. In order to maintain their reputations, high-end enterprises will ensure outstanding quality. With no-name labelling, people aren’t sure what they’re getting. They don’t mind paying for a brand they know the quality of. In most cases, someone’s first impression of you is based on the image you choose to project. Others may believe you’re disorganised if you don’t take care of your appearance. It’s not about “I don’t care what society thinks”. We live in a society and there are certain obligations to it.
It’s easy to strike up a discussion if you encounter someone else wearing your favourite brand. Even if you’re shy, knowing that you have something in common with the other person in the room, will make you feel a lot more confident. Some confess that how something appears is part of the appeal of brand names, they like the appearance of Diesel trousers or a Coach purse. They feel it’s nice being the centre of attention at times.
Coming to non-labelled products. There are people who feel that you don’t need branded products to look good. It’s not about the price you pay for, but about how you put together a look with whatever you have. It’s all about how you do it not what role the brand plays. Why pay thousands of rupees on a a simple white t-shirt that just has a brand logo on it, when you can still look put together in something similar without the logo.
Michael Kors, Coach, Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss, Burberry, and Chanel are just a few of the brand names that come to mind. The famous names have even higher price tags attached to them. The thought process is why wear someone’s name and advertise them.
Brand names have become a method to display status. Label kings and queens say they buy clothes and accessories because they represent who they are. Although brand names are more expensive, perhaps the appeal is that you aren’t only paying for the logo but also for status, confidence, and for the ability to fit in.
Whichever category you belong to, have a conversation with a person from the opposite category. You both will make strong arguments. You can debate it for hours and still you wouldn’t reach a conclusion. It’s all about different perspectives.
