India, July 16 -- For years, buying a designer handbag meant choosing between fast fashion and luxury labels with eyewatering price tags. But a new category is changing that equation. Enter neo-luxury, brands that prioritise exceptional design, premium materials, and thoughtful craftsmanship over inflated prices driven by legacy and logos. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Annika Saraf, co-founder and creative director at AKINNA, shared tips on buying a designer bag.

According to Annika Saraf, the biggest misconception about luxury is that a higher price always means a better product. In reality, much of what consumers pay for at traditional luxury houses goes towards decades of brand equity, global retail networks, and marketing. Neo-l...