Wang Yuanyuan

    Nearly 60 percent of students at the city’s high schools, colleges and universities said they had owned at least one luxury-brand product, according to a survey conducted by the Shenzhen branch of KFC fast-food chain.

    The products mainly include digital products, watches, bags and accessories, the survey said.

    The survey was carried out among more than 400 students at seven education venues including Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Institute of Information Technology, Luohu Foreign Language School and OCT Middle School.

    “Many people assume our generation, born in the 1990s, likes pursuing famous brands more than any other generation. The more expensive your clothes, shoes and accessories, the more fashionable you are. However, most of us quickly grow out of this mentality,” said a student called Xiaobo from the Shenzhen Institute of Information Technology.

    As they were growing older, they preferred to buy accessories that expressed their individual style. Self-made items are increasingly popular, said Xiaobo.

    “A growing number of students, particularly girls, like to make their own accessories, such as scarves and self-designed iPhone cases,” said Xiaobo.

    “Shenzhen students learn about brands much earlier than students in other cities because it is close to Hong Kong. Fashion is our way of setting ourselves apart from the crowd. Although some students do show off their luxury brand products, most of us are not like that,” said a Senior 2 student, identified as Weiwei, at OCT Middle School.

    “I think for young people, it is unnecessary to pursue luxury brands such as LV and Gucci because they are not designed for teenagers and we will not look good in them,” said a student, called JJ Lin.

    JJ Lin, who is a fan of campus snapshots, thinks the most fashionable students are those who look young and energetic. “We are more energetic than our elders, our fashion sense should reflect this,” he said.