Move over fast fashion – China’s Gen Z is rewriting the rules of consumer culture through vibrant second-hand trading platforms. What started as a sustainability trend has now blossomed into full-blown social hubs where young people trade everything from rare K-pop merch to vintage streetwear 💿👗.
‘It’s like TikTok meets eBay,’ says college student Li Mei, who uses apps like Xianyu to swap limited-edition albums with fellow fans. ‘We’re not just buying – we’re building communities around shared passions.’
Platform founders reveal explosive growth:
75% of users under 30
30% annual increase in cultural item trades
‘Hobby zones’ now driving 60% of user engagement
Why the shift? Young shoppers told us:
‘It’s eco-friendly, budget-savvy, and way more personal than regular online shopping’
Tech analyst Zhang Wei notes: ‘These platforms cleverly mix social features with commerce – think live-streamed unboxings and AI-powered recommendations. It’s retail meets reality TV 🎥.’
From manga collectors to DIY fashionistas, China’s digital-native generation is proving that one person’s ‘old stuff’ is another’s ticket to belonging. Could this redefine global youth commerce? 👀
