HANGZHOU, CHINA – From late July to mid-August, the “Era of Uglies Has Arrived” exhibition in Hangzhou, China, drew more than 3,000 people a day to celebrate the bizarre and wonderful world of “ugly” things accessible on the e-commerce site, Taobao. Taobao put on the exhibition, which is the first of its kind. It features more than 300 products that have won or been nominated for the platform’s annual “Ugly Stuff Competition.”
This trend is more than simply a fleeting craze; it has become a big part of the market. Alibaba, the parent firm of Taobao, says that “ugly” products have made more than 100 million yuan ($14.1 million) in sales since 2020. Yu Hu, the person in charge of the “Uglies Award” project, said that this industry is growing at a pace of “double or triple digits.”
Young Shoppers Are the Ones Who Drive “Emotional Consumption”
The main reason these unusual things are so popular is that young people are utilizing their money to show off their unique style. This trend, which is frequently called “emotional consumption,” has grown in popularity as the economy slows down and people look for cheap indulgences that make them feel good about themselves and their sense of style.
Yu Hu said that emotional consumption has become a “blue ocean,” which means it is a new and growing market segment that is becoming more popular. The “ugly-cute” accessory Labubu is a great illustration of this trend. It has followers all around the world, including celebrities like Rihanna and David Beckham.
For many people who came, the show gave them a new way to look at beauty. Mei Duo, who is 55 years old, said, “Ugly is another kind of beauty.” It’s a beautiful kind of creation. The exhibition is a look at how the notion of beauty has changed over time and how modern consumer culture is becoming more open to distinctive and unusual designs.