What is considered luxury?

The meaning of the word “luxury” may seem simple but the things we define as “luxury” can be a whole different conversation.

The term became the topic of discussion after a Filipina teen in Singapore got mocked for calling a bag she recently got from Charles & Keith “luxury.”

“Your comment spoke volumes on how ignorant you seem because of your wealth. To you, an $80 bag may not be a luxury. For me and my family, it is a lot. And I’m so grateful that my dad was able to get me one. He worked so hard for that money,” Zoe Gabriel said about those who shamed her. “I can’t believe I got hate for a

bag I was so excited to have.”

Since her video went viral, the meaning of “luxury” has become an ongoing debate online, with more users sympathizing with Zoe’s story.

Going by the dictionary definition, luxury is something expensive that is pleasant to have but is not necessary. But as netizens have raised, luxury is relative to the lifestyle of each per-son.

The word will mean differently for someone who did not grow up with a lot compared to someone born with a silver spoon.

For one Facebook user commenting on the topic, they said luxury is defined as “blessings.” “Anything beyond my basic needs are blessings,” they wrote.
Another netizen echoed that “any material thing you purchased using your hard-earned money is luxury.”

Similarly, one Twitter user shared that indulgences could mean the comforts that one person does not necessarily enjoy in their daily life.

“Sleep to the overworked is luxury. Free time to a single parent is luxury. Ice cream on a hot day is luxury. Jollibee to a balikbayan is luxury,” netizen Gerry Cacanindin said.

“Enjoying hard-earned money is luxury. Buying onions in the PH is luxury. Luxury is relative,” he added.

A kilogram of red onions (P350 to P550) is now more costly than meat products like a kilo of beef rump (P280 to P480) or a whole chicken (p180 to P220), according to a report by the De-partment of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, retail brand Luxe Shopping NL said that luxury depends on the outlook of each customer or buyer.

“Our customers are mostly interested in Hermes, Chanel, Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Prada, etc. For them, these are luxury goods,” the shop said. “We also do cater mid-range brands such as Longchamp, Polene, Marc Jacobs.”
(To be continued)