An investigation on consumer behavior and preferences towards apparel, purchase by Indian consumers age 15 – 25

Abstract: The Indian economy has grown over the last 10 years with new jobs created in the ITES sector, Biomedical, Automotive engineering, Apparel manufacturing and Civil engineering. The growth is strongly led by Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES); this is supported by the education sector with increase in the number of students enrolling for higher education and large numbers of students graduating every year thus creating a large pool of technical and managerial manpower. The working class people segment has grown since the economic growth and it has benefited middle class and upper middle class people. Due to the increase in the number of working people and substantial raise in income, spending power has increased over the years, and particularly the young Indians in the age of 15 – 25 like to shop more. The Government of India has laid down strict rules to protect the environment and avoiding child labor but there is no legality followed by companies in providing an ethical environment in means of working time and salary. The increase in food, energy and real estate costs makes people’s lives more difficult at this time. Are we going to follow the western countries and repeat the same mistake leading to a standstill? As resources are getting to near exhaustion, now is the time to think and ask ourselves question of what we are doing and justify ensuring that we buy only for our needs. This study focuses on the consumer behavior of young Indians in the age of 15 – 25 to understand and know their perception towards spending and to show a new path for the society and the industry for a sustainable environment.