Labubu dolls are now a pop culture phenomenon, with their popularity among Gen Z collectors. While Pop Mart, a toy manufacturer in Beijing, continues to sell the Labubu dolls in hotcakes, counterfeit versions of the doll, known as Lafufus, have come on the scene to take advantage of the latter’s demand, writes USA Today.
Following popular celebrities, such as K-pop idol Lisa, pop artist Rihanna, and David Beckham, sharing photos of the Labubu doll on their Instagram pages, the plush monster-like toys have become a sought-after item. If you’d like to purchase a doll of your own, here’s how to make sure your Labubu is real.
How to Identify a Fake Lafufu
USA Today indicates that some buyers have noticed that a Labubu doll has nine teeth, yet a Lafufu may have eight or 10 teeth.
Labubu dolls bought directly from legitimate Pop Mart stores come in boxes with premium, three-dimensional holographic stickers, which feature QR codes that lead buyers to Pop Mart’s official verification website when scanned.
The way to guarantee that your Labubu doll is authentic is to buy it from Pop Mart directly or authorized sellers. Buyers can trust Pop Mart’s Amazon Store and authorized TikTok accounts. Lafufu dolls are also present in online stores, such as Shein, Temu and Ali Express, according to USA Today.
The Global Appeal of Labubu
While it is difficult to explain Labubu’s appeal worldwide, Xinhua, a news agency in Beijing, believes it is attributed to “Chinese creativity, quality and culture”, according to the BBC. According to Xinhua, the Labubu dolls give everyone a chance to see “cool China”.
Lafufu searches have increased by 149 per cent in the last month. Laura Court-Jones, Bionic’s small business editor, said that people are now searching for the Lafufu dolls voluntarily because real Labubu dolls sell out in a matter of minutes.
Quick Guide to Spotting the Real Labubu
The Labubu doll is a quirky, monster-like plush toy created by Beijing-based toy maker Pop Mart. Its viral fame skyrocketed after celebrities like Rihanna, David Beckham, and BLACKPINK’s Lisa were spotted with it. However, the popularity also sparked a wave of counterfeits, nicknamed “Lafufu.” To check if your Labubu is genuine, count its teeth and look for an official Pop Mart QR code a quick way to separate the real from the fake.
