From Labubu to Sabyasachi: How Accessories Define Luxury and Belonging

Luxury no longer looks the way it once did. For decades, it was defined by big purchases: a couture gown, a bespoke suit, or a lavish wardrobe stacked with designer labels. But in 2025, as inflation rises, rent climbs higher, and lifestyles get more expensive, people are rewriting the rules. Instead of investing in entire wardrobes, they are turning to accessories as the new markers of luxury, identity, and even community. From a Sabyasachi clutch at an Indian wedding to a Labubu figurine displayed proudly on Instagram, accessories are doing something powerful: turning small details into big statements.

The Shift: Why Accessories Matter More Than Ever

Fashion has always been a mirror of its time. Today, the mirror reflects financial caution and smarter spending. Consumers are asking: Why spend lakhs on a dress that may go out of style when one timeless bag or pair of sneakers can elevate dozens of looks?

Accessories are winning because they are:

• Affordable luxury → A designer belt or kada costs less than a couture outfit but offers lasting value.

• Identity-driven → The right accessory tells the world who you are without saying a word.

• Versatile → A dupatta, handbag, or sneaker works across occasions, making them practical.

• Value-holding → Luxury accessories often hold resale value; fast fashion doesn’t.

This is why we’re seeing a boom in accessories across the world and especially in India.

Trend Watch: Accessories in 2025

Here’s how accessories are reshaping luxury this year:

1. Labubu & Collectibles

The rise of Labubu, Bearbricks, and blind box figurines has been nothing short of a cultural wave. For Gen Z, these aren’t toys they’re identity markers. In India, communities are forming around collectors who trade, unbox, and display these figurines. Owning a rare Labubu feels like owning a limited-edition designer bag: it’s playful, quirky, and signals that you’re “in the know.”

2. Quiet Luxury Bags

Flashy logos are out. Subtle, well-crafted pieces are in. International brands like Loewe and Bottega Veneta are leading the charge, but Indian designers are not far behind. Nappa Dori’s leather bags or Chamar Studio’s upcycled creations are symbols of modern Indian luxury understated, sustainable, and rooted in storytelling.

3. Sneaker Subculture in India

The sneaker scene has exploded in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. Events like Sneaker Con India have turned drops into festivals. Air Jordans, Yeezys, and even India’s own sneaker brands are now badges of community and status. Sneakerheads don’t just wear sneakers; they live them.

4. Everyday Jewelry

From gold chains in Chennai to silver kadas in Punjab to oxidized jhumkas in Gujarat, traditional jewelry is seeing a revival among Gen Z. What was once seen as “grandma’s style” is now being reinterpreted into everyday looks. For many, jewelry is both cultural pride and a modern fashion statement.

5. Digital Accessories

Identity doesn’t stop offline. AR filters, gaming skins, and NFT wearables are now digital status symbols. For young Indians active in gaming and social media spaces, these digital accessories matter as much as real-world ones.

Accessories Build Belonging, Not Just Style

Here’s where accessories stand apart: they don’t just create individuality they create community.

• Labubu collectors form clubs and Discord groups, trading figurines like treasures.

• Sneakerheads camp outside stores together, creating bonds over drops and resell stories.

• Jewelry enthusiasts share heirloom tales and styling tips, building intergenerational connections.

• Bag lovers swap reviews online, from spotting dupes in Sarojini Nagar to discussing the latest Bottega drop.

Owning the same accessory becomes an entry pass to a tribe. It transforms fashion from being about what you wear to who you connect with.

In India, this communal spirit isn’t new it echoes age-old traditions. Think about bridesmaids all wearing matching bangles, or wedding guests bonding over which designer’s clutch they chose. Accessories have always been social glue; the only difference is that in 2025, these communities exist both offline and online.

The Psychology of “Little Luxuries”

Why this shift? Economists call it the lipstick effect. When times are financially tough, people don’t stop buying they just shift to smaller luxuries.

A lipstick instead of a designer dress. A kada instead of a couture lehenga. A figurine instead of a fine-art painting.

Accessories fit perfectly into this psychological need. They bring joy, confidence, and aspiration without the guilt of a giant spend. In fact, studies show that these “small wins” often create greater emotional satisfaction than buying larger items that may feel indulgent or impractical.

Indian Luxury Through Accessories: A Cultural Lens

In India, accessories have always carried symbolic power.

• The bindi isn’t just makeup it’s identity, culture, and sometimes even rebellion when worn differently.

• The kada in Punjab symbolizes strength and spirituality but is now a mainstream style piece.

• The nose ring in Maharashtra or Rajasthan is both cultural and fashion-forward.

• The bandhani dupatta has transformed from festive wear to a versatile accessory across urban India.

This makes accessories more than just purchases they’re carriers of culture, history, and memory.

The Future of Luxury = Identity + Community

The future of luxury isn’t about filling wardrobes. It’s about curating a handful of meaningful, versatile, and community-driven pieces. Accessories are no longer “extras” they are the main characters of personal style. From Labubu figurines to Sabyasachi jewelry, sneakers to silver kadas, AR filters to bandhani dupattas, the message is clear: luxury today lives in the details, and those details are building not just identity, but community.

Building Your Own Fashion Story

Accessories are rewriting the language of luxury. They’re how you tell your story, how you signal your values, and how you find your tribe. At Skillinabox, we believe fashion is not just about clothes it’s about building identity and community. With our fashion designing courses, you don’t just learn how to create garments and accessories, you join a vibrant tribe of creators, entrepreneurs, and dreamers. Together, you’ll design, build businesses, and express yourself through fashion while connecting with people just as passionate as you. Because in 2025, fashion isn’t just what you wear it’s the community you create.