Are 'brands' or 'branding' a luxury experience? Nike, is rubber and cloth. The added demand and cost is from

Brand equity has a strong correlation to price and consumer value. The brands you mention, for the most part, have strong brand equity and that positively impacts pricing. Tiffany is another example of a well known brand that can charge a premium on its products based on its well regarded brand image. Brands typically don't erode like the housing market but it can happen. Sears had a higher brand value decades ago than it does now while it's seen as a discount brand. When companies go bankrupt, their brands usually suffer or disappear entirely. Usually, well regarded brands are well maintained.