The former West Germany is normally viewed as a vibrant and prosperous country in relation to the Stasi-controlled former East Germany. Reunification in 1990 saw the levelling up of both economies, with prosperity spreading east. However, amongst the inhabitants of former East Germany a certain nostalgia, or <em>ostalgie</em>, has developed.<br><br><em>Ostalgie</em> has given rise to a revival of the culture of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR): GDR-themed clubs and cafés have opened; some former East German women have begun wearing their GDR work smocks again, saying ‘somewhere, it’s a part of us’<sup>1</sup>. The GDR’s sparkling wine <em>Rotkäppchen</em> and their Coca Cola equivalent <em>Vita Cola</em> found in late-night corner shops and supermarkets now have a permanent place in German culture.<br><br>The popularity of East German consumer products amongst the younger generation can be attributed to their kitsch appeal — their stripped-down, garish design and souvenir-like quality. But amongst the older generation, it is an indication of both a yearning for the past and a certain defiance to the present. Some former East Germans continue to consume GDR products, such as the washing powder <em>Spee</em>, claiming they genuinely prefer them over Western alternatives.<sup>2</sup> However, a difference in quality does not explain other behaviour such as the resistance to the replacement of the beloved East German pedestrian crossing icon, <em>Ampelmann</em>, in 1995.<sup>3</sup> <br><br>Whether <em>ostalgie</em> stems from a romanticisation of the past, a resentment of the state of affairs following reunification, or a sincere belief that things were better under the GDR regime the phenomenon provides an interesting insight into the attachment that people develop for consumer products and everyday objects that uniquely represent their culture.<br><br>