These days, the annual post-Double Eleven piles of deliveries can be seen on the streets again, although they’re less high as previous years. For the first time, Alibaba is not disclosing full sales results for the event. Before, each year a new sales record was boasted — which always felt political; the message to the country and the rest of the world being: “Look, we’re going great! Each year, more Chinese people are wearing Adidas.” But this year is different. Lockdowns, rising unemployment for the youth, people losing their jobs and companies shutting down. It has been a difficult year for the Chinese economy, although I’m sure it’ll bounce back.
