'Retro Renaissance' The SME Industry Immersed in Nostalgic Sentiment

Retro Products Popular from Stationery and Kitchen Appliances to Sanitary Pads

GS25 has launched Monami Magic Black Lemon Sparkling and Monami Magic Red Melon Sparkling. Photo by GS25

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Amid the ongoing ‘retro’ craze sweeping across various aspects of social culture, a wide range of products boasting retro sensibilities?from food items to electronic devices, office supplies, and even women’s products?are stimulating consumers’ purchasing desires.

According to industry sources on the 14th, the recently spreading retro culture-based consumption trend is creating a significant impact by appealing to the sensibilities of the MZ generation, which has grown into the main consumer base. An industry insider analyzed, "This is part of the ‘New-tro’ phenomenon (a blend of Retro and New), where old products are embraced as new products."

Following this trend, various fields are unveiling new products reflecting retro sensibilities, capturing attention.

Monami introduced two types of the 153 Series and Live Color DIY Series Check Vintage Edition. Photo by Monami

Monami Launches Retro Sensibility Check Vintage Edition

Stationery company Monami introduced two types of Check Vintage Editions in January: the 153 series and the Live Color DIY series. These two Check Vintage Editions feature vintage styles and check patterns popular in 1950s America, designed to evoke a ‘retro’ feeling.

The 153 Check Vintage Edition comes in five colors: Red, Pink, Green, Yellow, and Blue. It offers a smooth and clean writing experience with a 0.5mm writing tip. The Live Color DIY Check Vintage Edition offers three types of nibs?round, square, and fine?allowing users to choose according to their needs, and it can be combined with ten different colors.

Lock&Lock recently introduced the D?cor series featuring a retro vibe. Photo by Lock&Lock

Lock&Lock’s D?cor Series Highlights Vintage Colors

Last year, Lock&Lock launched the ‘D?cor IH Series,’ which considers functionality, safety, and convenience.

The D?cor series, infused with retro sensibility, features vintage colors and rounded curved designs, available in four colors and ten lineups, allowing consumers to select their preferred style. In particular, the ‘Petit Wok’ attracted attention from a wide age range, from people in their 20s to 40s, with its uncommon 22cm size and yellow color, rarely seen in existing cookware.

The D?cor series applies coatings optimized for each product’s intended use. Pots mainly used for soup dishes feature ceramic coatings with excellent corrosion resistance and durability, while frying pans frequently used for frying or stir-frying adopt titanium coatings that prevent food from sticking. Additionally, Lock&Lock explained that a special technique maximizing the contact area at the bottom of the pots was applied, improving heat efficiency on induction cookers by 40% compared to conventional pots.

Lock&Lock cookware has been recognized for its excellent design reflecting aesthetics and convenience, winning prestigious international design awards such as the German Red Dot Award.

Welcron Healthcare's feminine care brand 'Yejimiin' launched the retro-inspired original herbal ingredient sanitary pad 'Yejimiin Nolaengi Edition' last February. Photo by Welcron Healthcare

The Return of Korea’s First Herbal Sanitary Pad, ‘Yejimiin Nolaengi Edition’

Welcron Healthcare’s women’s product brand ‘Yejimiin’ launched the ‘Yejimiin Nolaengi Edition,’ a retro-inspired original herbal ingredient sanitary pad, in February to attract customers.

The Yejimiin Nolaengi Edition applies the vintage colors and style of the herbal ingredient sanitary pad product first developed by Yejimiin in Korea in 2002. Since its launch in 2002, Yejimiin’s herbal ingredient sanitary pads have recorded global cumulative sales of 30 million packs. They have been very popular in China and Vietnam, where herbal culture is familiar, and have also been sold in ten other countries overseas, including Singapore and the United States.

The Yejimiin Nolaengi Edition carries the slogan “Upgraded quality, same look and price!” It is a herbal sanitary pad product containing five types of domestically sourced herbal ingredients that help women’s health. Welcron added that a patented technology unique to Yejimiin subtly reduces sensitive odors of the day with a gentle herbal scent.

An industry insider said, “Retro products, which previously targeted specific consumers, are now gradually becoming mainstream, with various products satisfying consumers’ individuality and preferences being launched across industries. Especially in the distribution sector, which is sensitive to trends, aggressive retro marketing will continue to stimulate changing consumer purchasing desires.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.