Brands
International Women’s Day ’26: Peace, freedom and self-expression drive Gen Z women, Newme survey finds
Solo travel and self-expression are rising among young women in India
INDIA: Ahead of International Women’s Day, fast-growing fashion brand Newme released a nationwide survey revealing how gen z women across India are redefining ambition, independence and happiness.
Titled The Confidence Edit, the study draws on responses from more than 1,000 young women and paints a portrait of a generation quietly reshaping traditional expectations, choosing balance over burnout, independence over approval and self-expression over conformity.
“One clear takeaway is that this generation is ambitious but also deeply self-aware,” said Newme co-founder Vinod Naik. “Women today are not simply following old definitions of success, they are rewriting them in ways that feel more personal and authentic.”
Peace over perfection
One of the survey’s most striking insights is a shift in how success is defined. Nearly one in four respondents said they prioritise peace over perfection, suggesting a move away from hustle-driven notions of achievement. For many young women, success now means building a life that feels balanced, sustainable and self-directed rather than constantly chasing milestones.
Independence beyond money
Independence remains central to gen z aspirations, but respondents increasingly view it as multidimensional. Around 86 per cent said they want to be both financially and emotionally independent, signalling a generation unwilling to trade personal freedom for stability or the other way around.
Decision-making is also becoming more individual. While many respondents said they consult family members on major life choices, fewer than one in five said their family alone has the final say.
Solo travel gains ground
Mobility and personal freedom are also becoming more mainstream. More than 70 per cent of respondents said they are comfortable travelling solo, either spontaneously or with advance planning.
Safety remains the biggest concern, ranking ahead of budget or family reactions. Yet the findings suggest that solo travel is increasingly seen not as a bold act but as a practical extension of independence.
Fashion as self-expression
The survey also highlights a changing relationship between confidence and personal style. Nearly 70 per cent said they would dress the same even if nobody could see them, indicating that fashion is becoming less about external approval and more about self-expression.
At the same time, almost 90 per cent said they feel comfortable expressing themselves publicly, through clothing, opinions or lifestyle choices, pointing to a generation that is confident about how it presents itself to the world.
Confidence grows, pressure remains
Despite rising confidence levels, emotional pressures persist. Nearly 40 per cent of respondents said they feel guilty about not meeting expectations, by far the most common source of guilt.
Many also cited difficulties such as asking for what they want, saying no, or dealing with being misunderstood, highlighting the complex emotional negotiations that often accompany independence.
Finding joy in everyday moments
When it comes to happiness, the survey suggests that everyday pleasures matter more than big milestones. About 43.3 per cent of respondents said simple acts such as treating themselves bring the most joy, followed by learning something new at work and spending time with friends.
Founded in 2022, Newme targets more than 500 million gen z consumers across India and Southeast Asia, positioning itself as a technology-driven fashion brand built around self-expression and rapidly changing youth trends.
Brands
Britannia 5050 expands premium range with caramel dipped sandwich
New launch blends 50 per cent crunch and 50 per cent melt amid premium snack shift
MUMBAI: It’s not just crunch time anymore, it’s crunch meets caramel curtain call. After more than three decades of owning the sweet-salty sweet spot, Britannia’s 5050 is now leaning into indulgence, adding a caramel twist to its evolving playbook. The brand has introduced the Britannia 5050 Caramel Dipped Crunchy Layered Sandwich, extending its recently launched premium “dipped” range that began with its cheese variant earlier this year.
At the heart of the new offering is a familiar equation with a richer finish 50 per cent crunch and 50 per cent melt reimagined through a caramel-forward profile. The product combines layered, baked crispiness with a smooth caramel coating, tapping into a noticeable shift in how India snacks today.
That shift is less about choosing between textures and more about having both. As consumer preferences tilt towards premiumisation, “melt-in-the-mouth” experiences are increasingly complementing traditional crunchy formats. Add to that the rising popularity of caramel across both Western-style treats and Indian taste adaptations, and the timing begins to make sense.
The result is a deliberately engineered “crunch-to-melt” transition, a multi-sensory bite designed to turn routine snacking into something a little more indulgent. It is also a clear signal of how legacy brands are reworking familiar formats to stay relevant in a market that now expects novelty as much as nostalgia.
Britannia vice-president for marketing Siddharth Gupta pointed to this evolving behaviour, noting that the brand is pushing the 5050 idea beyond flavour into texture. The move, he said, reflects a broader attempt to align with changing consumer expectations while strengthening its position in the premium snacking segment.
The caramel and cheese dipped variants are currently available across select cities through retail outlets and quick commerce platforms, marking Britannia’s continued push into high-frequency, high-indulgence snacking occasions.
If the original 5050 was about balance, this new chapter is about contrast with a glossy caramel finish.
