New Delhi: India has entered the league of the most brand conscious countries globally, thanks to the fast growing nature of its economy and the rising number of affluent consumers here. In a survey called 'Nielsen Global Luxury Brands Study', India was placed at the third position after Greece and Hong Kong.

The survey revealed that 35 percent Indian respondents buy designer brands. Meanwhile, about 46 percent people in Greece and another 38 percent in Hong Kong responded positively to having bought such brands.

The study conducted by global information entity Nielsen Company found that despite the prevalence of imitated designer-branded goods, more than three-fourth of Indians do not believe that imitating products match up to the original one.

On the brand preference, while 34 percent of respondents were found to have spent on Calvin Klein brand, 25 percent preferred Gucci and another 24 percent spend money on Diesel. About 16 percent Indian consumers spent on Christian Dior and 10 percent on DKNY. More over, 41 per cent Indians prefer to buy the products of Italian brand Gucci, making it the top country for this brand in the Asia Pacific region, followed by Philippines (39 per cent) and Indonesia (37 per cent.

About 26,312 Internet users in 48 markets across Europe, Asia Pacific, North America and Middle East were surveyed in November 2007. About 500 interviews were conducted in India.

"Foreign brands are synonymous to status and our survey finds that 57 per cent of Indians surveyed buys designer brands as a status symbol," said Vatsala Pant, Associate Director (Client Solutions), Nielsen Company.