On February 24, the Chinese retail toy brand Pop Mart rolled out its Mega Space Molly 1000% Burning Fire collectable in collaboration with local Chinese artist Yi Ran.
The work of art is Pop Mart’s first-ever toy made entirely out of porcelain. The series, inspired by the blue and white porcelain from Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, is limited to 160 pieces in the world at the hefty price of 19,999 RMB (2,882.16 USD). Just before the official launch, the autographed special edition was sold for the whopping price of 230,000 RMB (33,146.47 USD), setting a record for the highest global auction of a collection of Chinese toys.
The series strives to redefine modern collections by selecting unique materials and top-notch craftsmanship. “Ceramic culture represents tradition and fashion represents new trends. The combination of porcelain and new trends is a very beautiful cultural collision. I hope that through the launch of ‘Burning Fire’, more young people will feel the special charm of Chinese ceramic culture,” stated Yi Ran.
Apart from the new product, MEGA Collection also joined hands with Jiangxi Jingdezhen Taobo City to jointly produce a promotional film presenting the young generation using and appreciating the art of porcelain. Pop Mart also held exhibition spaces in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Changsha, and Chengdu in an attempt to resonate with younger crowds who are eager to rediscover their country’s history amid growing confidence in the Chinese identity.
Local artisanry has recently picked up steam in China, and nascent domestic luxury brands are aiming to revive traditional Chinese craftsmanship by investing in artisans and long-forgotten techniques and launching products aimed at contemporary audiences. Yi Ran himself is a renowned contemporary artist known for his brand Yeenjoy Studio which combines traditional Chinese crafts and street culture. Moreover, the young artist has worked with the likes of singer and fashion designer Pharrell Williams as well as sportswear giant Nike.
According to the 2022 interim performance report released by Pop Mart, in the first half of 2022, its high-end trendy line MEGA Collection achieved total revenue of 193.4 million RMB (27.9 million USD), exceeding the revenue of the whole year of last year of 178 million RMB (25.65 million USD).
