A retail chain in China made heads turn as they swapped mannequins for real people. A video of these unusual sites across many stores shows women strutting on treadmills as though it is a ramp. According to reports, the use of real people is intended to showcase clothing on real body types in movement. However, the video has gained mixed reactions on social media.
Models Are The New Mannequins
While many social media users appreciated the idea of real people showcasing clothing, many others were concerned that the models were being overworked. One X user commented, ''This is some pretty dystopian stuff. Wild ideas here. Guess they get paid to exercise.''
Another user said, "A workout for the models, but a concept to show the designs in action. They could accomplish a similar look by just having the models move around a bit and get rid of the treadmills. They're treating the models like lab test animals…not good.''
Human 'Mannequin' In Dubai Mall
A similar incident was seen in the UAE recently. A clothing brand in Dubai has caused a stir by having a live model stand next to mannequins at its storefront, leaving shoppers at a mall confused and igniting a range of reactions online. The incident occurred at the Dubai Festival City Mall, where a video featuring the model, Angelina, posing next to the mannequins at the Manto Bride store quickly went viral.
In the video, which was first shared by Angelina herself, she is seen standing on a platform at the front of the store, dressed in one of the brand's outfits and wearing stiletto heels. Angelina switches poses, attracting the attention of passersby and creating a buzz among shoppers. The video was initially posted on both her Instagram and TikTok accounts and has since been reposted by numerous other Instagram pages.
One of the popular Dubai-based accounts, "@lovindubai," which shares bite-sized stories and community information, reposted the video with the humorous caption, "Legends say she's still striking poses to this day." The video quickly garnered attention, with Love in Dubai’s post amassing over 489,000 views and more than 300 comments.
However, the marketing strategy did not sit well with everyone. Instagram user Shruti Chadha expressed concern, commenting, “This is inhuman. I’m sure her feet hurt like crazy, and when we have regular dummies, why do we even need this?” This sentiment was echoed by several others who felt the approach was uncomfortable and unnecessary.
On the other hand, some users appreciated the unique marketing tactic. Public figure Ghazi Al Yaman praised the strategy, calling it "next-level marketing. Nice one." Another user, Vlada Bulhakova, commented on the financial aspect, saying, “Someone has a lot of money for marketing."
The discussion continued with mixed reactions. One user defended the model's job, drawing parallels to other professions that require standing for long hours. "Everyone is saying this is slavery, inhuman, and uncomfortable. Just like everyone else, we all have our own discomfort at work; we all get some pain, whether it’s on the foot, back, hands, or whatever. She’s getting paid just like we get, plus think about the security guards in the malls; they stand all the time too. We are all struggling, and that's what makes us strong," the user argued.
The video on Angelina’s account has over 8,000 views and more than 100 likes, indicating that while the marketing strategy has sparked controversy, it has also successfully captured the attention of a large audience.
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