Shut up and take my money

Big splurge coming up? First time? Calm the butterflies. Count the zeroes. We've got help from luxury-investment experts

- Noor Anand Chawla

India it seems, is shopping its heart out. The country’s luxury market was worth ₹53,561 crore in 2022 according to Euro monitor, which expects it to jump to ₹82,186 crore by 2027. 

That’s a lot of buying. That’s also a lot of buyer’s remorse. It’s easy to be swept up in the excitement of that first splurge. Celebrities toting freebies are rarely reliable sources of information. Those who buy to resell have different opinions from those who buy to showoff. Young folks, particularly, react badly once prices rise and new collections come in. We asked the experts about their best tips for those making their first big purchase.

The truly rare stuff is rarely circulated publicly. Iconic models are auctioned, not sold. And even influencers wear fakes 

Be a smart sneakerhead

It's easy to ask, "That much for kicks?" when the Nike Air Footscape Woven style costs ₹13,596. And it's easy to keel over when you realise that's a markdown. The Y-3 Gendo Pro, part of a two-decade-long Adidas x Yohji Yamamoto collab, cost *69,999, if you can still find them.

Resale sites position every sneaker pair as special or must-have. Don't fall for it, says Mark Ong, aka Mr Sabotage, sneaker artist and streetwear designer from Singapore. “First, find your niche," Ong says. "There are too many options for just two feet. Start a collection that holds meaning to you." Ong started collecting limited-edition sneakers 20 years ago. "I focus on '80s basketball sneakers."