Brand Mania

How many of you prefer branded goods to normal ones ?

I think for most of us, we are selective. For somethings, we are particular about brand, the rest anything is fine.

Here is what I read about Designer brand in Eckhart Tolle's book the "New Earth".

"Designer Brands are identity enhancers, enhancer of false identity. If everybody could buy branded stuff, they will lose their psychological value. What remains is the material value (monetary value), which is multiple times the actual price of the stuff"

Newyork is a fashion city as all of you would know. You get the highest possible brands in the stores, a shoe worth $350 is normal there. Similarly in India, if you visit branded stores like "Lifestyle" or "Sri Krishna's", a top may cost you 1000 bucks, just because of their high end customers and brand value. You definitely can get it for lower price outside, if you are willing to search. With IT money flowing in hands of youngsters, everybody wants a posh life. So they splurge money on material goods like never before.

And talk about peer pressure. If you work in a place, where everybody dresses so well, that you might be look cheap for your outfits ( Not because you didn't dress well enough, but because of everyone else), it becomes mandatory to buy good stuff. I am not sure if one would look into brands of accessories you carry, but if they do, they might even judge you.

PS - Eckhart's book is about birth of a new earth, new consciousness. It is transforming many lives. The webcasts are available on oprah.com for free. Anybody can watch it. He has put together spiritual teachings of east and his own realizations in a simple, understandable, practical and beautiful way. So if you have time and interest, i would recommend this book and webinars.