Fashion
China’s millennial generation is the driving force behind the shift from “Made in China” to “Created in China.” To celebrate this new generation of makers, and the consumers who are increasingly looking for unique, niche brands and products to express themselves, Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA) will host its Taobao Maker Festival from September 13-16, 2018 at the iconic West Lake in Hangzhou. Founded in 2016, this year’s event will be the biggest yet, bringing together hundreds of Taobao creators to showcase their innovations.
The four-day event will draw inspiration from the city’s rich heritage and folklore and transform the picturesque West Lake into an exciting offline bazaar, featuring innovative products, cutting-edge technologies, indie designer fashion shows, live concerts, and more. Centered around the intersection of tradition and innovation, the festival will spotlight unique millennial merchants such as Chinese costume brand Kongxuansi, which sells clothes inspired by the embroidered uniforms of Ming dynasty imperial guards. The venue will also feature a 300-square-meter “futuristic shopping area” powered by AR, where thousands of visitors can discover brands, visualize in-home decor, and enjoy animated virtual companions as they shop using headsets.
Taobao is the world’s largest mobile shopping destination and more than half of its 610 million mobile active users are in their 20s and 30s. According to KPMG, millennials will become the biggest spenders in China in the next five years. Now in its third year, the Taobao Maker Festival has not only become an annual gathering for entrepreneurs to demonstrate their creativity, but also a window for the world to better understand China’s aspirational young consumers.
