From cabbage slides to cat plushie towers, Taobao's ‘Era of Uglies' exhibition puts cringe on show
The 'Era of Uglies Has Arrived' exhibition, organised for the first time this year by Alibaba-owned e-commerce giant Taobao, spotlights more than 300 products that have won or been shortlisted for the platform's annual Ugly Stuff Competition, also known as the Uglies Award.
People visit the exhibition 'Era of Uglies Has Arrived' by Alibaba's Taobao, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China August 13, 2025. — Reuters pic
Yu Hu, project lead for the Uglies Award, said the Era of Uglies attracted more than 3,000 visitors a day during its run from late July to mid-August.
'Ugly' products on Taobao have generated more than 100 million yuan (RM58.7 million) in sales since 2020, according to Alibaba, with Yu estimating current growth rates for the sector in the 'double or triple digits.'
People visit the exhibition 'Era of Uglies Has Arrived' by Alibaba's Taobao, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China August 13, 2025. — Reuters pic
Younger consumers are fuelling the popularity of these unprepossessing products because they want to express their individuality, Yu added. As the economy languishes, they are also looking for affordable luxuries, a phenomenon known as emotional consumption.
'In recent years, emotional consumption has become more and more of a 'blue ocean', meaning it's becoming increasingly popular, turning into a new (spending) track,' Yu said.
People visit the exhibition 'Era of Uglies Has Arrived' by Alibaba's Taobao, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China August 13, 2025. — Reuters pic
Ugly-cute accessory Labubu is a well-known example of the phenomenon, sparking a global buying frenzy with its wide eyes and toothy grin, and winning celebrity fans including Rihanna and David Beckham.
For some visitors, the exhibition was a reflection on the meaning of beauty, while others saw it as a lesson in creative thinking.
'Ugliness is another form of beauty,' said exhibition visitor Mei Duo, 55. 'There's so much creativity, (it's) a special type of beauty.' — Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Malay Mail
From cabbage slides to cat plushie towers, Taobao's ‘Era of Uglies' exhibition puts cringe on show
HANGZHOU, Aug 15 — From sandals inspired by cabbage leaves to a tower of misshapen cat pillows, a new exhibition in Hangzhou is celebrating the weirdest and most aesthetically unappealing products available for sale online in China. The 'Era of Uglies Has Arrived' exhibition, organised for the first time this year by Alibaba-owned e-commerce giant Taobao, spotlights more than 300 products that have won or been shortlisted for the platform's annual Ugly Stuff Competition, also known as the Uglies Award. People visit the exhibition 'Era of Uglies Has Arrived' by Alibaba's Taobao, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China August 13, 2025. — Reuters pic Yu Hu, project lead for the Uglies Award, said the Era of Uglies attracted more than 3,000 visitors a day during its run from late July to mid-August. 'Ugly' products on Taobao have generated more than 100 million yuan (RM58.7 million) in sales since 2020, according to Alibaba, with Yu estimating current growth rates for the sector in the 'double or triple digits.' People visit the exhibition 'Era of Uglies Has Arrived' by Alibaba's Taobao, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China August 13, 2025. — Reuters pic Younger consumers are fuelling the popularity of these unprepossessing products because they want to express their individuality, Yu added. As the economy languishes, they are also looking for affordable luxuries, a phenomenon known as emotional consumption. 'In recent years, emotional consumption has become more and more of a 'blue ocean', meaning it's becoming increasingly popular, turning into a new (spending) track,' Yu said. People visit the exhibition 'Era of Uglies Has Arrived' by Alibaba's Taobao, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China August 13, 2025. — Reuters pic Ugly-cute accessory Labubu is a well-known example of the phenomenon, sparking a global buying frenzy with its wide eyes and toothy grin, and winning celebrity fans including Rihanna and David Beckham. For some visitors, the exhibition was a reflection on the meaning of beauty, while others saw it as a lesson in creative thinking. 'Ugliness is another form of beauty,' said exhibition visitor Mei Duo, 55. 'There's so much creativity, (it's) a special type of beauty.' — Reuters
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
China's favourite 'ugly' products celebrated with exhibition
HANGZHOU, China: From sandals inspired by cabbage leaves to a tower of misshapen cat pillows, a new exhibition in Hangzhou is celebrating the weirdest and most aesthetically unappealing products available for sale online in China. The 'Era of Uglies Has Arrived' exhibition, organised for the first time this year by Alibaba-owned e-commerce giant Taobao, spotlights more than 300 products that have won or been shortlisted for the platform's annual Ugly Stuff Competition, also known as the Uglies Award. Yu Hu, project lead for the Uglies Award, said the Era of Uglies attracted more than 3,000 visitors a day during its run from late July to mid-August. "Ugly" products on Taobao have generated more than 100 million yuan (US$13.94 million) in sales since 2020, according to Alibaba, with Yu estimating current growth rates for the sector in the "double or triple digits." Younger consumers are fuelling the popularity of these unprepossessing products because they want to express their individuality, Yu added. As the economy languishes, they are also looking for affordable luxuries, a phenomenon known as emotional consumption. "In recent years, emotional consumption has become more and more of a 'blue ocean', meaning it's becoming increasingly popular, turning into a new (spending) track," Yu said. Ugly-cute accessory Labubu is a well-known example of the phenomenon, sparking a global buying frenzy with its wide eyes and toothy grin, and winning celebrity fans including Rihanna and David Beckham. For some visitors, the exhibition was a reflection on the meaning of beauty, while others saw it as a lesson in creative thinking. "Ugliness is another form of beauty," said exhibition visitor Mei Duo, 55. "There's so much creativity, (it's) a special type of beauty."
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Gen Z women embrace an ancient code written for them
The photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows people learning Nushu calligraphy in a hotel conference room repurposed as a temporary classroom in Jiangyong county, southern China's Hunan province. Nushu, "female script", was created around 400 years ago when women were still barred from attending school. They secretly learned Chinese characters and adapted them into Nushu, using the script to communicate with each other through letters, songs, and embroidery. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP) / To go with AFP story China-culture-history, FOCUS by Isabel Kua with Emily Wang in Shanghai At a studio in central Hunan province, a teacher grips an ink brush, gently writing characters of a secret script created by women centuries ago and now being embraced by a new generation. Nushu, meaning 'women's script', emerged around 400 years ago. Barred from attending school, the women secretly learned Chinese characters and adapted them into Nushu, using the script to communicate with each other through letters, song and embroidery. Passed down through generations of women in the remote and idyllic county of Jiangyong, it is now gaining popularity nationwide among Chinese women who view it as a symbol of strength. Student Pan Shengwen said Nushu offers a safe way for women to communicate with each other. 'It essentially creates a sanctuary for us,' the 21-year-old said. 'We can express our thoughts, confide in our sisters and talk about anything.' Compared to Chinese characters, Nushu words are less boxy, more slender and shaped like willow leaves. On Instagram-like Xiaohongshu, the hashtag 'Nushu' has been viewed over 73.5 million times – mostly featuring young women sharing tattoos and other modern work incorporating the old script. Student He Jingying said she had been enrolled in a Nushu class by her mother and that writing it brought her 'a deep sense of calm'. 'It feels like when the brush touches the paper, a kind of strength flows into you.' Nushu is more than just a writing system – it represents the lived experiences of rural women from the county, Zhao Liming, a professor at Beijing's Tsinghua University, said. 'It was a society dominated by men,' said Zhao, who has been studying Nushu for four decades. 'Their works cried out against this injustice.' An hour's drive away, around a hundred Nushu learners packed into a hotel room to attend a week-long workshop organised by local authorities trying to promote the script. Animation student Tao Yuxi, 23, one of the handful of men attending the workshop, said he was learning Nushu to gain inspiration for his creative work. As it represents part of China's cultural heritage, Nushu has to be passed down, he said. 'It's something that everyone should work to preserve – regardless of whether they are women or men.' — AFP
