July 30 , 2008 , WedWhat about the indie designer stuff that tick the youth?
By: Summer Xia
In the past several years, we have found it more and more popular among youth to search/find things that tick them from the indie/local designers/brands (iMart, a ‘flee market’ for indie designers sponsored by City Pictorial, as a good example). Hearing about ‘Copy Me’ designer exhibition and market in Soho Shangdu (Beijing), Youthology decided to go have a look, and talk to the designers as well as the audience.
1: Chinese elements continue to be a hot button:
- Chinese aesthetics are genuinely appreciated.
- Traditional elements are embraced with some little evil tricks.
play with Chinese elements/symbols in evil, violence, or erotic way (Photo by Summer)
the illegal doodled ads of 'counterfeiting all certificates' was once a social phenomenon and now creative works (Photo by Summer)
Classical Chinese elements of the 60s and 70s are embeded into this set of bags and badges. Hearing a cheerful little scream from a young girl, we noticed a badge that excites her. It plays with the classic slogan ’study hard and make progress everyday’ by following ‘learn from Lei Feng, and no falling into relationships’.
(Photo by Summer)
(Photo by Summer)
2.Environmental protection could be creative and cool.
One of the visitors said in an exciting tone, ‘I love this exhibition, especially those environmental protection bags. I love to collect good-looking environmental bags. These ones are even more special than those sold in shops. I am thinking of buying one down there in the flee market. ‘
these environmental protection bags are made in a environmental protective way: used plaster posters are turned into fashionable bags (Photo by Summer)
3.Non-mass-production under highlight.
handmade stuff are hot in the exhibition and the flee market (Photo by Summer)
limited edition T-shirts with an exclusive series number on each piece (Photo by Summer)
4.Experiential and playful exhibition/shopping journey
exhibition visitors queued up to scan their faces and take a shot in front of this wall of faces (Photo by Lisa)
- unfinished creative work providing a chance for you to be a designer yourself (photo by Summer)
5.Participation of audience/shoppers
This exhibition is open from July to September, during which there are a couple of ‘cool’ activities arranged along such as ‘No one can copy my LOMO work’ collecting/exhibiting LOMO photos of the exhibition, ‘Navy T-shirt Show’ gathering of youth wearing their beloved navy t-shirt to the exhibition, and ‘indie creative flee market’ for young designers/design-lovers to display and sell their own design and products. And the masked flash mob on the day of opening.
masked flash mob (Photo by Candy)
Youthology had a great time with all the other youth in the flash mob (Photo by Candy)
Is 北京故事 a brand?
July 31st, 2008 at 4:43 pm
And there is what some alternative?
November 6th, 2008 at 3:57 am
[...] by China Youthology on Modern Sky Festival (MSF): carnival of China’s edgy youthKaren on What about the indie designer stuff that tick the youth?Moa Correia on About China YouthologyTatiana on China Youth Watch on Beijing Olympic: [...]
November 10th, 2008 at 4:49 am
[...] of creativity-seekers. The success of creativity flee-markets (such as iMart; see our report on it here) and various forms of festivals (see our report about Modern Sky Festival) shows great potential [...]
November 15th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
interesting things!
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Hm that sounds good but I would like to know more details.
July 8th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
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July 15th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Good story for me but please more details.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Good information to me.
August 6th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
An interesting read thank you for sharing
August 11th, 2009 at 12:37 pm