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In this episode
Taobao's Uglies Award, launched in 2020 as a quirky internal celebration, has seeded a 230-million-yuan market in deliberately unappealing products. The sales suggest some younger shoppers are rejecting polished design as a signal of taste.
Why it mattersBrands built on beautiful design may need to watch whether that taste spreads.
Via South China Morning PostWhy it mattersAt Calvin Klein, art is carrying the intellectual identity of the show rather than serving as a backdrop.
Via Cultured MagazineOn our radar beforeCalvin Klein has now come up in 3 of our 200 episodes. First: Ep 37, 2 Apr. Latest: Ep 114, 18 Jun. Every episode on Calvin Klein.
Why it mattersThe retail environment becomes part of what McLaren sells.
Via HypebeastWhy it mattersChinese audiences are rewarding cultural complexity, as Helena Gao turns a mixed identity into creative material rather than a caption.
Via DazedWhy it mattersChanel signed off on an installation that comments on its archive instead of revering it.
Via VogueTaobao's ugly goods market reaching 230 million yuan, Tom Sachs building Chanel a boutique from plywood and Lego, and McLaren redesigning its dealerships to look like Gucci stores all turn away from flawless, clinical finish. Roughness, wit and deliberate imperfection are where credibility is gathering. Polish on its own is starting to read as less authentic.
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