With the world in constant flux, people are using their possessions to ground themselves. However, as certain types of physical goods become less commonplace, many are reflecting on what’s still worth owning in a sharing-enabled world. The evolving nature of digital ownership means that people often feel lik...

People are craving comfort. Amid what can feel like a state of constant crisis – a layering of traumatic societal events – it can sometimes seem like we’ve lost a sense of scale and cohesion. In the face of this, the desire to retreat into nostalgia is more seductive than ever.

Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience.

In the turbulent economic environment, money is losing its value. Consumers are reevaluating their spending across sectors. With a looming crisis of trust in financial institutions, how are people managing their budgets? And how can brands navigate the complex relationship between value and cost?

Gen Zers are more cautious about spending than generations before them. Still, they will travel to the ends of the planet as long as there is a promise of a unique, customised, and memorable experience. If luxury brands can give up outdated notions, they may tap into a new loyal customer base.

The story of Indian Gen Y and Gen Z changing the face of weddings is also a story of self-awareness, finding a voice, and clarity of thought. All stakeholders of India’s multibillion-dollar wedding industry have realised that they can’t take young brides for granted and must cater to their desires.

Ease of use and interoperability have made homegrown instant payment systems the preferred mode of transactions for payments for millions of Indians who are becoming more digitally savvy and evolving commerce locally. Now, the United Payments Interface (UPI) is trying to recreate its success abroad.

Festival season is a buyer’s market for fashion-forward Indian consumers, with much of the spending on textiles, garments, and jewellry. International brands are taking notice of the growing appetite of India’s affluent classes for luxury and responding with collections to satisfy their tastes.