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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
China's favourite 'ugly' products celebrated with exhibition
By Nicoco Chan 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 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 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, a special type of beauty." This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tariff truce sparks hopes for Halloween orders in China
By Casey Hall and Nicoco Chan YIWU, China (Reuters) -A tariff truce between the United States and China is helping kickstart the resumption of trade between the countries but for manufacturers of Halloween decorations in the eastern Chinese city of Yiwu feelings are mixed. President Donald Trump's tariffs on Chinese imports, which reached 145% in April, prompted waves of U.S. customers to suspend or delay orders for festive decorations, disrupting business for the likes of Lou Xiaobo, whose company Xubo relies on the U.S. for 20% of sales. The 25-year-old, whose family has been making Halloween decorations in Yiwu for 28 years, warned they would have to scramble to produce and ship their hanging skeletons and costume props to America in time for the October 31 holiday. Customers are weighing up the cost of the new 30% tariff rate and although he is expecting orders, Lou is also warning customers his business cannot produce more complex made-to-order products in time. "I don't think because tariffs are lowered; we should be happy, because they have already delayed our production time," he told Reuters from his family's store at Yiwu's sprawling wholesale market. "In these two months we have lost (to tariffs), we can produce about 500,000 yuan of goods, but now I only have 200,000 yuan...I'm not happy just because tariffs have been lowered." His comments point to how the damage has been done for many Chinese manufacturers that rely on the U.S. market. While they say the truce has brought hope that orders will return, uncertainty still exists given the current 90-day time limit on lower tariffs and the Trump administration's unpredictability. China manufactures the majority of festive decorations the U.S. buys, not just for Halloween but for other events such as the Fourth of July and Christmas. "The tariffs were implemented at the utmost worst time for the Halloween manufacturer, as product was either finished and on a boat being held up, or in some stage of production that was halted," said Robert Berman, a board member of the Halloween and Costume Association and the CEO of Imposta Costumes. "China for many in the Halloween industry creates a one and done system," he added. "Yes, we can diversify and find new countries, but this will take years, and many of us are too far along to make any changes for 2025." Another exporter of Halloween masks, who only gave her surname as Ma, said she was hopeful that customers would now place orders, though she believes her overall exporting business turnover will be much lower than last year. "If people order now, to ship it in June or July, it probably won't be too late, but if we don't have these in stock, which means they have to be made to order, we won't be able to get them in stock for Halloween," she said. "Anyway, I definitely hope they don't start up the trade war again!" Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tariff truce sparks hopes for Halloween orders in China
By Casey Hall and Nicoco Chan YIWU, China (Reuters) -A tariff truce between the United States and China is helping kickstart the resumption of trade between the countries but for manufacturers of Halloween decorations in the eastern Chinese city of Yiwu feelings are mixed. President Donald Trump's tariffs on Chinese imports, which reached 145% in April, prompted waves of U.S. customers to suspend or delay orders for festive decorations, disrupting business for the likes of Lou Xiaobo, whose company Xubo relies on the U.S. for 20% of sales. The 25-year-old, whose family has been making Halloween decorations in Yiwu for 28 years, warned they would have to scramble to produce and ship their hanging skeletons and costume props to America in time for the October 31 holiday. Customers are weighing up the cost of the new 30% tariff rate and although he is expecting orders, Lou is also warning customers his business cannot produce more complex made-to-order products in time. "I don't think because tariffs are lowered; we should be happy, because they have already delayed our production time," he told Reuters from his family's store at Yiwu's sprawling wholesale market. "In these two months we have lost (to tariffs), we can produce about 500,000 yuan of goods, but now I only have 200,000 yuan...I'm not happy just because tariffs have been lowered." His comments point to how the damage has been done for many Chinese manufacturers that rely on the U.S. market. While they say the truce has brought hope that orders will return, uncertainty still exists given the current 90-day time limit on lower tariffs and the Trump administration's unpredictability. China manufactures the majority of festive decorations the U.S. buys, not just for Halloween but for other events such as the Fourth of July and Christmas. "The tariffs were implemented at the utmost worst time for the Halloween manufacturer, as product was either finished and on a boat being held up, or in some stage of production that was halted," said Robert Berman, a board member of the Halloween and Costume Association and the CEO of Imposta Costumes. "China for many in the Halloween industry creates a one and done system," he added. "Yes, we can diversify and find new countries, but this will take years, and many of us are too far along to make any changes for 2025." Another exporter of Halloween masks, who only gave her surname as Ma, said she was hopeful that customers would now place orders, though she believes her overall exporting business turnover will be much lower than last year. "If people order now, to ship it in June or July, it probably won't be too late, but if we don't have these in stock, which means they have to be made to order, we won't be able to get them in stock for Halloween," she said. "Anyway, I definitely hope they don't start up the trade war again!" Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
South Koreans mourn historic temple burnt by wildfire, race to save others
By Nicoco Chan and Hongji Kim ANDONG, South Korea (Reuters) - Charred, black ruins at South Korea's Gounsa temple stood on Thursday in stark contrast to the kaleidoscope of colours that are a trademark of the country's historic palaces and Buddhist temples. Many of the buildings at the temple complex, first built by monks in the year 681, burned to the ground this week as South Korea's largest wildfire ever swept through forests and towns, killing at least 26 people and destroying or damaging priceless cultural sites. "There was a wind stronger than a typhoon, and flames whipped through the air like a tornado, burning the whole area in an instant," Gounsa temple chief Deungwoon told Reuters. "The buildings and remains of what Buddhist monks have left over 1,300 years are now all gone." A massive, ornate bronze bell sat in the ruins of its tower, cracked from top to bottom. Two out of the three national treasures at the site burned, while a handful of other structures escaped the blaze. Gounsa was one of at least 18 designated heritage sites or objects, including two national treasures, that had been destroyed or damaged as of Thursday, according to the Korea Heritage Service. "About 750 people were deployed to national heritage sites as of Wednesday, and preliminary checks and emergency measures are being taken," the service said in a statement. The measures included preventive spraying, deploying fire-retardant cloth, cutting fire prevention lines, and removing historic items, including Buddha statues. At least 1,566 relics were moved from major temples, including Gounsa, and old family homes in the area. At the picturesque Hahoe Folk Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, authorities deployed retardant and other measures in a desperate attempt to save its thatch-roof buildings nestled on a bend in the Nakdong River. While residents were urged to evacuate, as of Thursday the village had survived. Throughout Korea's tumultuous history, fire has posed one of the greatest threats to its traditional wooden structures, and many of the temple halls had bronze bowls of water placed outside to warn of the danger of flames. Parts of Gounsa itself have burned before, most recently in 1975, before a major restoration in 1992. But the scale of the latest destruction left residents in disbelief. "The sadness is indescribable," said 70-year-old Kim Young-hoo. "As a follower who cherishes this place, it pains my heart to see it destroyed so horribly." South Korea's main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung visited the still-smoking ruins on Thursday and called for further protection of other threatened sites. "I heard that traditional temples in nearby areas are also in a dangerous state," he said. (Additional reporting by Joyce Lee, Jisoo Kim, and Josh Smith; Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Michael Perry)
