WasangShow
WasangShow
"If we only focus on being a hip brand, it is easy to give up. But since I am an indigenous individual, it has become an intrinsic motivation" – WasangShow founder Derla
WasangShow is an original indigenous hip brand in Taiwan. Its products are infused with indigenous and nature-inspired motifs or myths to generate a one-of-a-kind style and design. The name is derived from Truku indigenous language "DerlabersSaw," which translates to "peanuts"; this is combined with the Cantonese "hua sheng sao," which means "fashion show." The brand upholds the original aspiration of "opening the doors wider to let more people become acquainted with indigenous people" to launch individualistic creative works that are imbued with rich indigenous culture.
WasangShow started its e-commerce platform back in 2013, transforming from the earliest Ruten auction to Rakuten and Pinkoi, it established its official website on QDM in 2016. In February this year, WasangShow's transferred its official website to the 91APP platform and released its brand app.
Transition to e-commerce
Derla indicated that the essence of e-commerce lies in customer management. He recalled that in 2016, a customer left a message in the official fan group because he was dissatisfied with the shipping cost of product exchanges, which subsequently led to online arguments between multiple parties. In light of this incident, Derla readjusted the regulations and only accepted "product returns" instead of "product exchanges." Furthermore, since WasangShow launched its "Flying Fish" product collection in 2017, Derla has kept a habit of handing out questionnaires in the fan group to investigate consumers' opinions. For example, WasangShow designed 20 vests for this summer, allowing consumers to select the ten most popular designs via an online poll before officially launching the new products. This approach enables the company to quickly ascertain consumers' preferences and effectively improve sales efficiency.
Keeping the brand alive through e-commerce amid the pandemic
"The pandemic has affected us enormously." Derla expressed candidly that he thought about closing the brick-and-mortar store in March. Fortunately, he has been engaged in e-commerce for a long time, and his indigenous-style masks sold like hotcakes due to the pandemic, allowing the brand to survive the recession.
WasangShow has absorbed the abundant nutrients of tribal culture, transformed traditional elements, and embarked on its journey of innovation. Derla tries to keep an open mind when it comes to the commercialization of traditional motifs. "Don't look at the village through the eyes of villagers; we must do so from a global perspective. I am a Truku but our brand designer has Hakka blood flowing through his veins. Since we come from different ethnic groups, his interpretation of indigenous motifs can be unique." We should practice moderation in everything we do. If we overemphasize tradition, culture can become too closed.
By reproducing traditional symbols, WasangShow rethinks how to carry on the ancestors' marks in the fast social environment and incorporate them into contemporary trend culture, creating a bridge of communication linking the past and the present. While conveying the beauty of indigenous art, more people will be able to be exposed to profound tribal culture and heritage.
Contact information:
Trabus Sayku Lowking (Derla)
Tribe: Truku
Contact method: 02-2555-9823