Luxury brands as status symbols

From New Republic: "While lower-income shoppers may not be buying luxury items in droves, ever-lower clothing prices and fast fashion have made it possible to look of-the-moment on nearly any budget. So it's no surprise that trendiness is now stigmatized …. While some of this comes from a genuine (and necessary) horror at the appalling labor conditions under which much cheap clothing is produced, the fact that high-end clothing isn't necessarily produced more ethically suggests the horror of cheapo brands has an additional source."