What does it take to turn something you love into a sustainable way of life?
For ten years, POPUPASIA® has explored this question alongside independent creators, handmade brands, and creative entrepreneurs across Asia.
What began as a handmade creative exhibition in a warehouse at Taipei’s Songshan Cultural and Creative Park has grown into a regional platform connecting creators with audiences,
business opportunities, and international markets.
To mark its tenth anniversary in 2026, POPUPASIA® presents a special publication reflecting on a decade of development, the social impact of its initiatives,
and the changing landscape of Asia’s handmade creative industry.
Beyond celebrating milestones, the publication explores a deeper question:
How can creative passion become a sustainable livelihood,
and what support do independent brands need to thrive?
About POPUPASIA®:
Connecting Asia’s Creative Ecosystem ⋆˙⟡
Founded in Taiwan in 2016 and organized by C PLUS CULTURE, POPUPASIA® is a creative platform dedicated to connecting and supporting handmade and lifestyle brands across Asia.
Through its annual POPUPASIA® Handmade & Lifestyle Expo, curated exhibitions, entrepreneurial education, business matchmaking, and international collaborations, the platform creates opportunities for independent creators to develop their businesses and reach new markets.
Guided by its founding vision of “Connecting Asia’s Handmade Creative Ecosystem and Turning Passion into a Way of Life,” POPUPASIA® aims to build a supportive environment where creativity, entrepreneurship, and cultural exchange can grow together.
Its mission extends beyond organizing exhibitions. By bringing together creators, buyers, businesses, cultural institutions, and international partners, POPUPASIA® continues to develop a creative ecosystem that supports brands at different stages of their entrepreneurial journeys.
From One Warehouse to a Creative Network Across Asia .✦ ݁˖
POPUPASIA®’s journey began with a simple observation: Taiwan had a vibrant community of handmade creators, but lacked a dedicated commercial exhibition that recognized their work as a viable business.
After years of organizing creative markets and introducing Taiwanese brands to overseas audiences, the founding team launched the first POPUPASIA® exhibition in November 2016 at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park.
Unlike conventional creative markets, the exhibition introduced paid admission, professional exhibition booths, and a structured commercial environment. Although some creators initially questioned whether visitors would pay to enter, the inaugural four-day event welcomed approximately 12,000 visitors, exceeding expectations.
The success demonstrated that handmade products could attract paying audiences and that independent creators had the potential to develop sustainable businesses.
Over the following decade, POPUPASIA® expanded its initiatives from annual exhibitions to year-round brand development, business networking, and cross-border collaboration.
Ten Years of POPUPASIA® in Numbers
- 10 exhibition editions across its first decade
- 250,000+ cumulative exhibition visitors
- 16 countries and 57 cities represented in its international reach
- 2,000+ buyers connected through exhibition activities
- 100+ supporting events promoting learning and collaboration
- 5,000+ handmade and creative brands participating in the ecosystem
- NT$180 million in cumulative participating brands’ exhibition revenue
The platform’s development can be understood through three key stages.
2016–2019 | Expansion: POPUPASIA® established its professional exhibition model, introduced the Handmade Creative Awards, and expanded international connections across Asian creative markets.
2020–2022 | Transformation: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the platform adapted through cross-border collaborations and extended its support beyond exhibition dates through entrepreneurial development programs.
2023–2026 | Deeper Integration: POPUPASIA® expanded its digital brand network, strengthened B2B matchmaking, and developed international partnerships and co-curated exhibitions.
Together, these milestones reflect the platform’s transformation from an annual event into a broader network supporting creative entrepreneurship across Asia.
Beyond Exhibition Numbers:
Measuring Ten Years of Social Impact ˚˖𓍢ִ໋❀
To better understand its contribution to the handmade creative ecosystem, POPUPASIA®’s tenth-anniversary publication examines both economic outcomes and broader social impact.
The assessment estimates a Social Return on Investment (SROI) of 3.31:1, meaning that every NT$1 invested generated approximately NT$3.31 in estimated social value.
Over the ten-year period, the publication reports approximately NT$1.468 billion in estimated social value, compared with around NT$443 million in investment costs.
These figures reflect an assessment of social value rather than direct financial returns. The publication also examines changes in entrepreneurial confidence, professional recognition, market access, and community support.
Its research draws on brand interviews, survey responses, historical records, and supporting materials collected in 2026.
Among the 57 respondents to the tenth-anniversary brand survey, 84% reported at least a moderate positive change in one or more areas, while 46% reported substantial improvement or greater.
The findings highlight an important aspect of POPUPASIA®’s mission: the value of supporting independent creators extends beyond individual sales transactions to the capabilities, opportunities, and relationships they develop over time.
Six Transformations:
How Creative Passion Becomes a Sustainable Business ⋆˚࿔
Drawing on ten years of brand experiences, POPUPASIA® identifies six interconnected transformations that illustrate how creative businesses develop and how a supportive ecosystem can contribute to their growth.
01 | From Creator to Entrepreneur
For many handmade creators, the journey begins with a passion for making something rather than a clear business strategy.
However, turning creative work into a sustainable livelihood requires more than craftsmanship. Creators must also understand pricing, customer needs, brand positioning, and long-term business development.
Since its first exhibition, POPUPASIA® has encouraged participating brands to approach their work with an entrepreneurial mindset through structured applications, business preparation, educational programs, and the Handmade Creative Awards.
The platform has also developed initiatives that help creators strengthen their business knowledge and evaluate new opportunities.
One example highlighted in the publication is Northern Nomads (北方牧人), a handmade brand that reconsidered its product strategy through POPUPASIA®’s mentoring program. By exploring customer demand and new business possibilities, the brand gradually developed a new direction centered on hand-dyed yarn.
Such experiences demonstrate that entrepreneurship is not simply about increasing production or sales. It is also about making informed decisions and finding a business model that supports the creator’s long-term goals.
02 | From Workshop to Showcase
Moving from a small market stall to a professional exhibition involves more than displaying products in a larger space.
Brands must consider visual presentation, storytelling, customer interaction, and how their products communicate value to a specific audience.
POPUPASIA® provides an exhibition environment where creators can introduce their brands to visitors who have deliberately chosen to attend, alongside potential buyers and industry partners.
The four-day event also serves as a valuable opportunity for market testing. Through conversations and direct feedback, creators can better understand customer preferences and refine their products, pricing, and brand positioning.
The publication highlights how participating brands have used these experiences to discover new customer needs, adjust product designs, and strengthen their confidence in the market.
For independent creators, being seen by the right audience can become an important step toward professional growth.
03 | From Products to Business Opportunities
Selling products directly to consumers is often the starting point for handmade businesses, but relying on occasional markets can make revenue unpredictable.
To support more sustainable business development, POPUPASIA® has expanded its role in connecting brands with retailers, corporate buyers, cultural institutions, and other potential partners.
Its B2B matchmaking initiatives provide opportunities for brands to explore wholesale partnerships, product collaborations, and new distribution channels.
During the 2025 exhibition, POPUPASIA® organized three business matchmaking events involving 110 meetings, with a 94% buyer attendance rate and 14 immediate successful matches.
The publication also highlights partnerships extending beyond the exhibition, including six participating brands entering the National Museum of History’s retail store in 2025 following earlier matchmaking opportunities.
These developments show how an exhibition can become a starting point for longer-term commercial relationships, rather than a sales opportunity limited to four days.
04 | From Working Alone to Growing Together
Many independent creative brands begin as one-person businesses, where founders manage everything from production and marketing to customer service.
While this independence offers creative freedom, it can also bring challenges, including limited resources and a lack of professional support.
POPUPASIA® has encouraged collaboration through exhibitor communities, networking activities, educational programs, and opportunities for brands to work together.
Over time, relationships formed at exhibitions have developed into joint projects, shared learning experiences, and ongoing partnerships.
The publication notes that nearly 60% of surveyed brands experienced a reduction in entrepreneurial isolation after connecting with peers and creative communities.
Some participating creators have also returned as mentors, speakers, and award judges, sharing their experiences with newer brands.
These relationships demonstrate that sustainable entrepreneurship is not always an individual journey. A strong community can become an important source of encouragement, practical knowledge, and long-term support.
05 | From Taiwan to Asia
International exchange has been a central part of POPUPASIA®’s vision since its establishment.
Over the past decade, the platform has supported two-way connections: introducing overseas creative brands to Taiwan while helping Taiwanese creators explore opportunities in other Asian markets.
Between 2016 and 2025, POPUPASIA® welcomed more than 500 overseas brands, strengthening connections across 16 countries and 57 cities.
Its international activities have included collaborations and exchanges involving Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, and other Asian markets.
In 2025, Chiang Mai’s Jing Jai Market brought 30 Thai brands to Taiwan, while POPUPASIA® supported six Taiwanese brands in participating in activities in Chiang Mai.
International co-curation and partnerships, including collaboration with Japan’s TRUNK DESIGN, have further expanded opportunities for regional creative exchange.
Rather than focusing solely on short-term overseas exposure, POPUPASIA® aims to help brands build more continuous relationships with international buyers, creative organizations, and local markets.
06 | From Exhibition Days to Everyday Life
The final transformation focuses on bringing handmade products beyond exhibition venues and into consumers’ everyday lives.
As consumer preferences evolve, creative products are increasingly valued not only for their practical functions, but also for their originality, craftsmanship, local identity, and the stories behind them.
POPUPASIA® has supported this transition through collaborations with retailers, cultural institutions, businesses, and other distribution partners.
For example, the publication highlights RE;BIRTH by Daily Classic (日常經典), which developed products using repurposed exhibition materials and expanded its work into collaborative recycling projects.
Such examples illustrate how creative businesses can connect craftsmanship with sustainability, lifestyle choices, and wider market opportunities.
The anniversary survey found that 68% of responding brands reported noticeable positive changes in their ability to turn creative work into a sustainable part of everyday life.
Ultimately, this transformation reflects the founding vision of POPUPASIA®: helping creators build livelihoods around the work they love while making handmade creativity more accessible in everyday life.
Beyond Individual Brands:
Four Conditions for Sustainable Creative Entrepreneurship .☘︎ ݁˖
Across these six transformations, POPUPASIA® identifies four essential conditions that help creative businesses develop over time.
Professional Recognition: Clear exhibition standards, brand evaluation, and industry recognition help creators establish credibility and understand the commercial value of their work.
Supportive Networks: Connections with fellow creators, buyers, organizers, and industry partners provide access to knowledge, encouragement, and potential collaboration.
Room to Experiment: Exhibitions, educational programs, and shared resources give brands opportunities to test ideas and explore new markets while managing the risks involved.
Entrepreneurial Independence: Developing business skills and accessing diverse opportunities allows creators to determine their own pace, scale, and direction of growth.
These four conditions illustrate why supporting handmade brands requires more than providing exhibition space.
For POPUPASIA®, meaningful support means creating an environment where creators can develop confidence, build relationships, learn from experience, and make sustainable decisions for their businesses.
Building a Stronger Creative Ecosystem Across Asia .𖥔 ݁ ˖
Over the past decade, POPUPASIA®’s impact has gradually extended beyond individual brands and exhibition venues.
Its initiatives have contributed to a broader understanding of handmade creativity as a legitimate form of entrepreneurship, while encouraging collaboration among creators, public institutions, businesses, and international organizations.
The tenth-anniversary publication describes this interconnected support system as a form of cultural infrastructure: a shared foundation of relationships, knowledge, resources, and opportunities that helps creative businesses develop over time.
Unlike temporary events, such infrastructure grows through repeated collaboration and continued participation.
Visitors may become exhibitors, exhibitors may become award winners, and experienced creators may return as mentors or partners. Through this ongoing exchange, knowledge and opportunities reach new generations of creative entrepreneurs.
The platform’s role is therefore not only to organize events, but also to connect different parts of the creative ecosystem and help meaningful relationships continue beyond the exhibition.
Looking Ahead:
Building the Next Decade of Creative Entrepreneurship ☆
As POPUPASIA® enters its next decade, its focus is shifting toward strengthening long-term support for independent brands and developing more sustainable connections across Asian markets.
One important area of development is POPUPASIA®’s digital B2B platform, 亞洲手創通, which connects creative brands with potential buyers and business partners.
The platform has expanded from exhibition-related administration to supporting brand information, business inquiries, and quotation requests.
Looking ahead, POPUPASIA® aims to further develop online purchasing capabilities, strengthen international market connections, and explore ways to help creative brands establish clearer business records and improve access to financing opportunities.
The platform also plans to deepen cooperation with overseas partners, moving beyond individual exhibitions toward more continuous market relationships and cross-border business opportunities.
These initiatives reflect a broader ambition: to build a more accessible and sustainable creative ecosystem where independent brands can find the support they need at different stages of development.
Ten Years of Creativity, and a Journey That Continues ✴︎
From its first exhibition in a warehouse at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park to an expanding network of creators and partners across Asia, POPUPASIA®’s first decade reflects the growing possibilities of handmade entrepreneurship.
The tenth-anniversary publication captures not only the platform’s achievements, but also the experiences of creators who have developed their brands, overcome challenges, and built meaningful relationships along the way.
As POPUPASIA® looks toward the next ten years, its goal remains consistent: to connect people, strengthen the creative ecosystem, and help independent creators develop sustainable livelihoods.
Because turning passion into a way of life is not simply about making something you love. It is about building the opportunities, relationships, and support that allow you to keep doing it.
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