During my extended stay in China, I've encountered plenty of peculiar sights. In fact, both locals and expats become so accustomed to strange happenings and eccentric clothing that they usually pay no mind.
Through my Instagram account, I aim to offer cultural explanations for the various phenomena in China — delving into history, customs, and language to show how they shape people's actions and even their wardrobe choices.
But the page isn't exclusively about clothing. It covers anything that prompts a 'Why?' or 'How did that come about?' — with the typical replies being either 'No why' (#nowhy) from Chinese folks or 'because China' (#becausechina) from foreigners living here.
A general explanation for some of the fashion decisions shown below is:
- English text on clothing signals education, uniqueness, and trendiness. (It might be a well-known brand, but if few people understand English well, simply having any English words — regardless of their meaning — is already considered fashionable.)
- Anything that seems 'deep' is regarded as worthwhile. If you, as an onlooker, fail to see the depth, that's your problem. What matters is that the wearer believes they are making a statement.
- The person wearing it doesn't need to grasp the meaning, because others probably don't either — so why worry? Even offensive or crude phrases can appear on children's clothes, since nobody knows what they say.
- As long as the garment is practical and comfortable, the text on it is irrelevant.
- A hairstyle should distinguish you from the crowd. Many people sport similar, standard cuts (Chinese people are aware of this too). If a haircut sparks conversation, that's a win.
Below are some examples — quite a lot, actually.
More info: Instagram
#1 Freud in Pink
#2 I'd Absolutely Rock This
#3 Chase Your Dreams
#4 Hazard
#5 I Simply Refuse
#6 I Am Batman
#7 Overthink Not
#8 Adidog Edition
#9 Survived a Bear Attack, Good for Her
#10 Life Solved
#11 A Touch of Nationalism Showing…
#13 Chinese Style
#14 Don't Bother Me
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