HIGH END CONNECT

[1]

Image Thumbnail:

You may have often seen schoolgirls and boys these days with a Blackberry or the latest PSP in the market. Some are also brand conscious and follow fashion trends around the world religiously. Be it higher purchasing power, massive globalisation or simply the Internet era, teens are very clear about how they manage a lifestyle.
Aishwarya Tiwari, a class 12 student, owns a Blackberry and she says she feels the need for it. “One has to be in sync with the times,” says Aishwarya, a self-professed gadget freak. She doesn’t think it’s just a cool trend. For her, it’s more about there being a need for these things in the present age. Her classmate Noopur Sen reasons out the want for this lifestyle: “I think every generation has had its share of being cool and being associated with brands, but in this era it’s just being noticed to a larger extent than before.”
For teens these days, it is not about owning the gadget or fitting in socially. The need for better comfort, better quality and staying connected to your friends is what matters. Richa Netto, a second year degree college student, talks about the right mix of quality and brand association. “I can’t call myself a brand freak. But yes, I do care about owning things of a certain quality,” says Richa, who would love to own a Blackberry, but is quite content with her N97 for now.
Kids have every reason to follow the hi-end lifestyle what with parents being able and willing to provide, and expensive schools where teens from more or less same economic background attend. But then there are those who are satisfied with the life they have. Paulomi Chatterjee , a 16-year-old, doesn’t really feel the need for this lifestyle. She says, “My friends and I aren’t brand conscious and are comfortable with the normal desi stuff as well.”