In recent months, Labubu have become a real mania, not to mention obsession. These dolls with sharp dentons, large eyes and ruffled hair, depopulate between boys, collectors and even celebrities such as Rihanna and Madonna. On Tiktok and Instagram there are no longer the videos of unboxing and collections exhibited as trophies. The situation is undoubtedly a little escaped from hand and now – guess a little – on the market there are also false Labubu, which can prove extremely dangerous.
What are Labubu and why they like them so much
For those who still do not know, the Labubu are born from the imagination of the Belgian-Hongkongian illustrator Kasing Lung and are part of the series “The Monsters”. Their appearance is deliberately ambiguous, an intersection between rabbit, elf and wild creature, which plays on the contrast between the ugly and the tender.
The real popularity of these dolls has arrived thanks to the partnership with Pop Mart, a Chinese company specialized in Blind box, sealed boxes that hide a random version of the puppet inside, and it is precisely the surprise effect to stimulate desire: a mechanism that recalls the stickers, the eggs Kinder or the Japanese Games.
Fans – often young adults more than children – do not seek only a puppet, but a rare object that communicates identity and belonging to something (we do not know well what actually!). In short, the Labubu have become fashion accessories, “social currency” and trophies to exhibit online.
The risks of counterfeit Labubu
Given the great popularity, the demand for these dolls has now far exceeded the offer. Many of the original Labububu, sold by Pop Mart, are almost impossible to find if not at very high prices. Some rare models have been beaten at auction for dizzying figures and in physical stores there have been theft of thousands of dollars in puppets.
This has created fertile ground for false, or counterfeit copies, sold online or in local markets, which try to ride the wave of success. The problem is that it is not just “poor imitations”, according to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) of the United Kingdom, these toys can be really dangerous.
The latest seizures are clear and thousands of false dolls have been collected from the British market in recent months. Unlike the originals, which have holographic stickers, QR code and UV Times of authenticity, the False present:
They are also made with non -certified materials, which may contain toxic substances such as lead or prohibited plasticizing. In other words, they are not only economic copies but real out of law products, often marketed by sellers who operate without any guarantee.
Christine Heemskerk, responsible for the safety of CTSI products, has warned consumers with very clear words:
The counterfeit dolls are made poorly in unsafe establishments. A fake Labubu doll could contain dangerous chemicals in plastic, which can cause permanent damage to the child’s organs. Small parts like eyes could easily detach themselves, representing a serious risk of suffocation. Be careful not to put your children at risk by purchasing economic and unsafe fakes.
How to recognize an authentic Labubu
Original Labububu have precise characteristics:
Too bright colors, irregular seams and wrong proportions are clues to counterfeiting.
Other advice of the English authority are of:
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