PSA: Put down your Sproutworks Kale-Cranberry healthy side dish and make way for bean sprouts. Apologies kale: you’re not the permanent superfood, at least not in China. While living in China I have witnessed more than a few peculiar trends; these range from globally recognized and sought-after selfie sticks to more China-centered, cozy Ostrich pillows. Just recently I have started spotting people sporting 豆芽花 (beansprout) hairpins. These small black hairclips with glued green beansprouts have taken over both Chinese streets and social media. You can get your own share of the trend from street vendors for only 5 yuan.It is difficult to pin down the precise origin of the trend. While some witnesses to the growth of the trend argue that it first appeared in Beijing, others claim that it initially took off in Chengdu. Small beansprout, flower, and mushroom hairclips first entered the market in 义乌 (Yiwu), 浙江省 (Zhejiang Province). Despite the fact that the wholesale price is typically around 30 jiao per clip, in the past month manufacturers and intermediaries have made hundreds of thousands of yuan. Just like with selfie sticks and other quirky inventions, beansprout hairpins remain subject to very polarized public opinions. Some critics take issue with the reason behind its creation. Student Jeremy R. Teboul spoke out on the matter, stating: “One word, three letters: W-H-Y? Just why? Why is there a need to put something on your head?” Others zealously defend the trend due to its endearing features and claim that the accessory is reminiscent of childhood. 刘令仪 (Portia) maintains: “In China, there is a cartoon called 喜羊羊與灰太狼 [Pleasant Goat and the Big Wolf] in which one of the main characters grows a sprout on the top of his head when he thinks about something very serious; when I saw people wearing [the sprout hairclips] I immediately thought of the series.”For all we know, even flower crowns used to face a fair amount of criticism. Whatever your opinion on the unique hairclip, it is certain that these tiny beansprout hairpins serve as an excellent conversation piece for those awkward elevator rides. This article was written by Lana Kugli. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Lana Kugli