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Having lived in China for quite a while, I’ve seen a lot of unusual things. In fact, many Chinese and foreigners get so used to weird occurrences and weird Chinese fashion that people just generally ignore them.
On my Instagram page, I try to provide cultural context for why things in China happen the way they do, by explaining some of the history, the culture, or the language, and how these things influence behaviors or even a fashion sense.
The page is not all about street fashion though. It's anything that you can ask the question of ‘Why?’ or ‘How did that happen?’ to, with the general classic answer being ‘No why’ #nowhy (Chinese response) OR ‘because China’ #becausechina (foreigner in China response).
The general explanation for some of the fashion trends and choices below is that:
- Any English = educated, different and fashionable. (it could possibly be a famous brand, but if no one’s English is that great… then just by having it… no matter what it is, it’s already good)
- Anything ‘profound’ is considered good. If you as an observer don’t find it profound…that’s your fault. The wearer is making a statement, and that’s what’s important.
- The wearer doesn’t have to understand, because others most likely don’t understand…so who cares. Even vulgar, rude statements can be worn by kids… because no one knows any different.
- If the actual piece of clothing is functional and comfortable, who cares what’s written on it.
- A haircut should set you apart from everyone else. Many people have very similar or standardized hairstyles (Chinese people are aware of that too) If a haircut creates conversation then that’s awesome.
Here are a few examples I've caught in my street photography shots…quite a few of them, actually.
More info: Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Pink Freud
RELATED:
#3
Follow Dreams
#5
Danger
#6
I Just Don't
#7
I'm Batman
#10
Bear Attack And She Survived, Good For Her
Final score:
238points
#11
Got Life Figured Out
Final score:
230points
Luis Milian 5 years ago
This is like tattooing a Chinese symbol not knowing what it really says. you just wear it proudly
#12
If You Think
#13
A Bit Of Nationalism Coming Out There...
Final score:
207points
#14
Leave Me Alone
#15
China Fashion
#16
Make A Woman
#17
Hipster Triangle
#18
Shark Soup
#19
Asia
#20
How Old Are You? And Just How Drunk Are You?
Final score:
147points
#21
A Bit Morbid, But I Wonder If I Can Get It In Yellow... Would It Be Less So?
Final score:
145points
#22
Beep, Beep!
#23
Need To Stop Feeding The Cat Vegetarian Food
Final score:
140points
#25
Feline Good
#27
I Do Feel Happy Now
Final score:
128points
#28
I Needed That Today
Final score:
126points
#29
The Pig
#30
Hand Wash
#31
Pervert
#32
Am I French Yet
#33
No Carrots
#36
That's... Taking Things To Extreme
Final score:
103points
Symbole Simple 5 years ago
Does she realise she's been robbed? Someone literally 'picked her pocket'!
#37
Some Sweet China Style... So Fashion
Final score:
101points
#38
And He Knows It
Final score:
100points
#40
I'll Be A Plastic Toy
#43
Addicted To Black
#44
Good Advice, Rarely Taken
Final score:
87points
#45
I Ate A Rat
#46
If I Ask Where You're Going, Will You Be Confused?
Final score:
80points
#48
Does It?
Final score:
73points
#49
Beat
#50
Oh Good, Noing... That's What I Needed In My Life
Final score:
64points
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Kaisu Rei 5 years ago (edited)
Sometimes I want to be like "don't these people ever check what the stuff on their clothes might mean??" but I know there are an equal amount of western people who wear stuff with Chinese characters or even get tattooed without knowing what it means, or thinking they know what it means but not actually speaking the language.
Rose the Cook 5 years ago
Anything American is considered trendy, the English language is associated with America only by many Chinese. I had a small boy repeating the F word over and over until the whole class was doing it in tune. On asking the Chinese headmistress to help me stop it she replied in Chinese, "But Americans say it all the time so it has to be a good thing". She was very red faced when told what it meant and avoided me for ages after.
Stanislav Teliatnikov 5 years ago
Or they know exactly what it means and simply attended the Trolling School of Life.
Robert tait 5 years ago
I have seen some amazing shirts in china, this is an excellent sample.. I vocationally buy some on trips that are in English but make no sense as presents for kids / friends /family. By the same token I commissioned father in law to create the symbol for "Guess" and had t-shirts made out of it, so when people ask what it says. A few special folks got one that translated to "Small Penis" and were told it meant great courage. I think there is a market for bad Chinese on shirts for Americans to wear...
Xiaomeng Yuan 5 years ago
pixelize children's faces at least, they did not do anything wrong to get laughed at and shamed publicly
J. Sebastian 5 years ago
Classic google translate. Somewhere in China maybe there's some guy who translates all this stuff and just gets off making random crazy substitutions...if so, I salute you Sir.
Sarjana Lastname 5 years ago
Amazing why not Hindu letters? Or Arabic lettering? This is hit back from Chinese tattoo wisdom - fashion at west. What they has to always tell what it means.
Quinn Alexander 5 years ago
I swear more than half of these people know *exactly* what they're wearing and it's brilliant xD
Jenifer Cappello 5 years ago
The majority of clothing in the world is made in China and India. In China there are a lot of copycats as well, since copyright isn't really respected there. These people, the majority of them, work in the clothing factories, the clothes are sold for cheap down the street, because of how cheaply made they are, and we are the ones paying a huge premium. Its not surprising to see them wearing these clothes, this is a direct result of our Western need for trendy fashions.
Aaron Freeman 5 years ago
When Nixon opened relations with China, a woman was invited to a diplomatic function, and wanted to wear something with Chinese on it. She got to a curio shop, and found a badge, with some Chinese, and the number 17, and wore that to the dinner. It was a lot sexier, than she expected. When she met a diplomat, she asked him to translate, which he did. "City of Hong Kong Prostitute License number 17. How many women get tats, that they think mean Prosperity or Wisdom, when it really means S**t or Do Me Like A Duck?
Mark CM 5 years ago
Does he also find it amazing when Westerners have Chinese writing tattooed on themselves that say "I'm a gutter whore"? Probably not. That would require objectivity. :)
Robyne Undy 5 years ago
I think it is possibly because they don't actually read English! Prime example with a Christmas present I ordered Incorrectl...f66608.jpg 
cc 5 years ago
The Chinese love all things western. My boyfriends aunt went back to China and sent a Babies Pram back with her. It was made in China, but she didn't care because it was a western brand.
Gracie Mae 5 years ago
so basically, all misspelled, incorrectly worded or nonsensical shirts in English are big hits there?
Carol Emory 5 years ago
First..too many pictures. Second..many of these might be factory mistakes sold cheap considering a lot of clothing comes from factories in China.
Petrika Bellovoda 5 years ago
At least they know some english, but USA do not speak Chinese or other languages 0%
Glynis Lailann 5 years ago
I think education in the English language is badly need here. This can be classed as clothing exploitation of the masses. Goes to show the manufacturers care nothing and their main aim is just to make money - they just don't care.
Caren Johnson 5 years ago
Let those people try to wear that in America! It won't be funny here!
Kaisu Rei 5 years ago (edited)
Sometimes I want to be like "don't these people ever check what the stuff on their clothes might mean??" but I know there are an equal amount of western people who wear stuff with Chinese characters or even get tattooed without knowing what it means, or thinking they know what it means but not actually speaking the language.
Rose the Cook 5 years ago
Anything American is considered trendy, the English language is associated with America only by many Chinese. I had a small boy repeating the F word over and over until the whole class was doing it in tune. On asking the Chinese headmistress to help me stop it she replied in Chinese, "But Americans say it all the time so it has to be a good thing". She was very red faced when told what it meant and avoided me for ages after.
Stanislav Teliatnikov 5 years ago
Or they know exactly what it means and simply attended the Trolling School of Life.
Robert tait 5 years ago
I have seen some amazing shirts in china, this is an excellent sample.. I vocationally buy some on trips that are in English but make no sense as presents for kids / friends /family. By the same token I commissioned father in law to create the symbol for "Guess" and had t-shirts made out of it, so when people ask what it says. A few special folks got one that translated to "Small Penis" and were told it meant great courage. I think there is a market for bad Chinese on shirts for Americans to wear...
Xiaomeng Yuan 5 years ago
pixelize children's faces at least, they did not do anything wrong to get laughed at and shamed publicly
J. Sebastian 5 years ago
Classic google translate. Somewhere in China maybe there's some guy who translates all this stuff and just gets off making random crazy substitutions...if so, I salute you Sir.
Sarjana Lastname 5 years ago
Amazing why not Hindu letters? Or Arabic lettering? This is hit back from Chinese tattoo wisdom - fashion at west. What they has to always tell what it means.
Quinn Alexander 5 years ago
I swear more than half of these people know *exactly* what they're wearing and it's brilliant xD
Jenifer Cappello 5 years ago
The majority of clothing in the world is made in China and India. In China there are a lot of copycats as well, since copyright isn't really respected there. These people, the majority of them, work in the clothing factories, the clothes are sold for cheap down the street, because of how cheaply made they are, and we are the ones paying a huge premium. Its not surprising to see them wearing these clothes, this is a direct result of our Western need for trendy fashions.
Aaron Freeman 5 years ago
When Nixon opened relations with China, a woman was invited to a diplomatic function, and wanted to wear something with Chinese on it. She got to a curio shop, and found a badge, with some Chinese, and the number 17, and wore that to the dinner. It was a lot sexier, than she expected. When she met a diplomat, she asked him to translate, which he did. "City of Hong Kong Prostitute License number 17. How many women get tats, that they think mean Prosperity or Wisdom, when it really means S**t or Do Me Like A Duck?
Mark CM 5 years ago
Does he also find it amazing when Westerners have Chinese writing tattooed on themselves that say "I'm a gutter whore"? Probably not. That would require objectivity. :)
Robyne Undy 5 years ago
I think it is possibly because they don't actually read English! Prime example with a Christmas present I ordered Incorrectl...f66608.jpg
cc 5 years ago
The Chinese love all things western. My boyfriends aunt went back to China and sent a Babies Pram back with her. It was made in China, but she didn't care because it was a western brand.
Gracie Mae 5 years ago
so basically, all misspelled, incorrectly worded or nonsensical shirts in English are big hits there?
Carol Emory 5 years ago
First..too many pictures. Second..many of these might be factory mistakes sold cheap considering a lot of clothing comes from factories in China.
Petrika Bellovoda 5 years ago
At least they know some english, but USA do not speak Chinese or other languages 0%
Glynis Lailann 5 years ago
I think education in the English language is badly need here. This can be classed as clothing exploitation of the masses. Goes to show the manufacturers care nothing and their main aim is just to make money - they just don't care.
Caren Johnson 5 years ago
Let those people try to wear that in America! It won't be funny here!
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