By Nicoco Chan

HANGZHOU, China, Aug 15 (Reuters) - 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 ( BABA )-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 ($13.94 million) in sales since 2020, according to

Alibaba ( BABA ), 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 (spending) 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, (it's) a

special type of beauty."

($1 = 7.1717 Chinese yuan renminbi)