China's major consumption trends in 2023

Dopamine consumption brings emotional value

This summer witnessed the emergence of a dopamine fashion trend. To cater to consumer demands, brands embraced this trend by infusing their products with bright, saturated colors.

The dopamine phenomenon extended beyond the realm of fashion into catering, beauty and other industries, the Workers' Daily reported.

Dopamine dress, dopamine makeup, dopamine coffee, dopamine tea and other drinks have quickly become popular.

Industry experts attribute the surge in the "dopamine" trend to its ability to stir positive emotions, meeting the current consumer demand for emotional release and stress relief.

With over 260 million Generation Z individuals (born between 1995 and 2009) in China, constituting more than 18 percent of the total population, Tencent's Generation Z Consumption White Paper said their penchant for personalized self-expression and using consumption as a means to express emotions.

Consumers are looking for products that provide emotional value during 2023's Double 11 shopping festival, the Xinhua reported.

Sales figures surged within the first hour of the Tmall's Double 11 shopping festival: e-sports keyboard shafts saw a 600 percent year-on-year increase.

While cycling-related products skyrocketed, with motorcycle sales growing by 101 percent, road bikes by 300 percent, and sales of riding, skiing, and outdoor footwear increasing by 300 percent on a yearly basis.

The digital industry like cell phones recorded a turnover surpassing last year's shopping gala figures, totaling 4,791 brands.