Those ‘materialistic affairs’ : For a few bucks more? 

Whether it is an outfit, handbag, pair of sneakers or a mobile phone, many youngsters out there are fans of world renowned brands. Sometimes they can be called ‘brand ambassadors’ when looking at their collections. However, as of today, many young buds manage to pool out huge sums of money for branded shopping when they are on a tour, since branded shopping is quite limited in Sri Lanka. Is it worthwhile or is it a waste of money altogether? The Daily Mirror Life gave an ear to a few young buds out there.

Poornima

I think there are more mobile phones and clothes than the population. The youth always try to shop for what is most expensive, probably due to advertising campaigns done by these big brands.

Nadeeka

I think it’s alright to go for brands when thinking about their quality and other features.

Malaka

I always buy what is good for me. I’m not always looking for brands but then there are some people who have made it a habit to always hunt for Ralph Lauren or other branded outfits. If they have enough money then it’s alright.

Chathurdhyani

More than the brand what I look for is the comfort aspect. Shopping depends on my mood as well but there’s nothing bad about branded shopping also. Good branded outfits and accessories are of good quality and they can be worn or used for a longer period of time.

Tishan

It’s something to do with esteem satisfaction. There are youngsters out there who want to try out new things. We live in the smart era so new technology, best brands are essentials for the youth.

World’s 12 Best Shopping Cities 

1. Seoul – a capital city bursting with shops of a dizzying array of types and sizes, from LED-fish-scale-studded luxury department stores to towering all-nighter shopping malls to trendy street carts, which all reflect the ever-changing hottest item of the moment.

2. Milan – Home to many of fashion's biggest names such as Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Versace, it's little wonder this beautiful city is full of glamorous locals and shops that cater to them.

3. Madrid – A haven for luxury items which will make your credit cards go warmer.

4. Dubai, UAE - A miniature kingdom unto itself, the Dubai Mall is the world's largest mall in total area, with theme parks, a waterfall, "dancing" fountains, Olympic-sized ice rink, aquarium, indoor souk and malls within the mall, such as the Galeries Lafayette from France and the first Bloomingdale's outside the United States.

5. Vienna - At the centuries-old Naschmarkt, shoppers can eat their way along 1.5 kilometers of 120 food vendors flogging local eats from kaiserschmarrn (dessert pancakes) and crepe-like palatschinke to exotic cheeses and seafood.

6. Buenos Aires – a fusion of Argentine dance moves and its climate is equal to a mind blowing Argentine shopping experience.

7. Hong Kong - According to Global Shopper City Index research, 87 per cent of Hong Kong tourists shop, and "76 per cent of shopping tourists expressed above-average satisfaction on value for money in 2011." Small wonder that Hong Kong also claims the title of best Asian shopping city in the Index.

8. Paris – The best shops in Paris don’t sell clothes. They sell lifestyles.

9. Kuala Lumpur - Three of the world's 10 largest malls are in KL, including 1 Utama, the world's fourth-largest mall with more than 650 shops, Asia's largest indoor rock climbing facility, massive rooftop garden with 500 species of exotic plants and indoor rainforest with koi ponds and freshwater aquarium.

10. London - London shopping at its best is bold, eclectic and international.

11. Tokyo – The ultimate Tokyo shopping experience is the department store. Walk in to one and you’ll be met like a royal.

12. New York - You can find pieces from every possible era spanning the entire last century of fashion history, and from a wide range of design houses including the likes of Galanos, Dior, Givenchy, Ungaro, Pierre Cardin, Ossie Clark, and more.

Source : http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/18/travel/worlds-best-shopping-cities/

By Kamanthi Wickramasinghe
Photographs by Nisal Baduge