Arnika Thakur is a New Delhi-based independent journalist. She has written about businesses across sectors like finance, hospitality, start-ups, and technology. She has worked at Reuters and was previously the digital editor of 

. Her stories have explored the intersection of technology and society, latest developments in fintech, role of women in business, and issues of sustainability. She has a master's degree in English literature and has occasionally written about fashion, books, art, and culture. She is also the co-founder and editor of women's health and wellness platform Femoai.com.

In a hyper-connected world, it feels like everything previously ‘insider’ is more available than ever: from behind-the-scenes access to the lives of public figures to travel experiences immersing people into worlds previously deemed unattainable. But while people embrace this community-based inclusivity and unprecedented access to their icons, they still yearn for touches of exclusivity to define their status.

As the age-old understanding of exclusivity is eroded, people are redefining status for themselves using a broad range of factors beyond solely economic ones. This new iteration of status is often based around increasingly niche and local signifiers – from luxury dupes to the rise of members clubs and closed-community spaces based on shared interests. Status is becoming a mode of belonging and connection with like-minded people.

People are erecting walls of their exclusive communities, relying on more subtle markers of identity. This is apparent with middle-class people fetishising working-class aesthetics, athletes turning to niche sports like padel, and social media groups organising around niche interests – spawning companies. As status-defined micro-trends on social media accelerate, brands face a challenge to keep up. If previously certain legacy items were automatically associated with exclusivity, now people are much more trusting of the UGC-defined vision of what status means. More than ever, speed, knowledge, inventiveness, and being plugged into the community determine what – and who – is in.

Insider Status

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. 

Personal Worlds

Surendra Mehta is national secretary at India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA).

Gen Y (born 1982-1996)

India

Luxury

Watches and jewellery

Jewellery Insights by Katerina Perez

FirstPost

Indian Retailer

Homegrown

Vogue Business

Goldman Sachs

Autocar India

Titan Annual Report

Business Standard

Interview with Surendra Mehta conducted by the author

YourStory

Financial Express

Mint

The New Indian Express

From fine to bridge jewellery, luxury brand Amrapali Jewels knows how to tap the Indian aesthetic. As the affluent demographic in India grows, the brand is widening its luxury net to cater to both the burgeoning middle class looking for light, daily wear and the traditional ultra-wealthy who spend on weddings.