Is that Labubu fake? How Lafufus, copycat of the viral Chinese doll, are a cult hit

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Bollywood actor Ananya Panday doesn't own Labubus, but its knockoff, Lafufus. As the monster plushie made by Chinese toy maker Pop Mart becomes a global sensation, its copycat version has flooded the markets. Lafufus are cheap, they are weirder than the original, and have a fan following of their own read more
A man walks with two Labubu plush toys hanging from his backpack straps along a pedestrian street on The Bund in Shanghai. The toys are a hit and now fake versions, Lafufu, have flooded the market. AFP
It's the accessory of the year. The Labubu is everywhere. From Rihanna to BLACKPINK's Lisa, everyone is flaunting one. Bollywood, of course, has jumped onto the bandwagon. Urvashi Rautela carried four Labubus to Wimbledon. Ananya Panday has been seen showing off the plush toy monster on her Chanel bag… Turns out her dolls are fake. It's not a Labubu but a 'Lafufu'.
Wonder what's going on. We dive into the world of Labubus and their fake dopplegangers, the Lafufus.
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How Labubu has become a global hit
The quirky toy with mischievous eyes and sharp teeth from Chinese toy maker Pop Mart debuted in 2019. The viral elf-like creatures were storybook characters from a Hong Kong artist and author, Kasing Lung's 2015 'The Monsters' book series, before they became collectables.
However, Labubu became a global sensation only a couple of months ago after celebrities like Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and Kim Kardashian started. What the rich and famous endorse, the ordinary folk want a piece of. The monster doll became a TikTok trend, and in no time, long queues were seen outside shops in Shanghai, Dubai and London to grab the headline-making dolls. Such is the craze that fans in the UK were fighting over them.
What's the big deal about Labubu? It is hard to explain. The furry plushies come in several colours and are sold in blind boxes. It means you do not know which Labubu you have bought until you open the box. This surprise element is part of the appeal and the possibility that you could snap up a rare 'secret' Labubu.
Labubus – often clipped to bags or belts – are sold from $20 (approx Rs 1700) to $30 (approx Rs 2,500). However, rare editions go for hundreds of dollars. Last month, a life-size doll sold for more than $170,000 (Rs 1.46 crore) at the first Labubu art auction hosted by Yongle Auction in China; it attracted over 1,000 bidders.
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The popularity of the toy has sent Pop Mart's profits soaring. The Beijing-based company said it expects profits for the period to jump by at least 350 per cent as revenues more than tripled.
Visitors look at a set of three Labubu sculptures from a series called 'Three Wise Labubu' at an exhibition of Yongle International Auction, in Beijing, China, June 6. The set was later sold for 510,000 yuan at the Yongle International Auction. Reuters
Pop Mart is not selling Labubus in India. However, resellers are selling the dolls online – Rs 2,299 for the plushies. The blind box ones are going for more than Rs 3,000, and the limited edition Labubus are selling for anywhere between Rs 7,000 to Rs 12,000. However, their authenticity cannot be guaranteed.
Knockoffs are flooding the markets. Fake versions are selling in India for Rs 899. They are being dubbed as Lafufu.
People look at Labubu dolls at the flagship store of Pop Mart in Shanghai, China. The rise in demand has led to a shortage of the toys, with fake versions entering the market. Reuters
How Lafufu, the fake Labubu, is winning fans
The high demand for Labubu has led to copies of the doll being sold worldwide. Bollywood actor Ananya Panday ended up with fake dolls.
A video shared by socialite Orry, a friend of Panday, revealed that she wasn't carrying Labubus, but Lafufus. 'My friend Ridhima was trying to start a Labubu business and she ordered 100 of them but she got the Lafufus,' Panday revealed.
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However, the actor is not the only one no qualms about the fake toy. Like Labubus, Labubus are growing in popularity. With original elf-like dolls being sold exclusively by Pop Mart, there is a growing scarcity. That has given birth to Lafufu. The knockoffs are sold on the streets and online at cheaper prices, and they are easier to get your hands on. And they look weirder.
Victoria Bystritsky, a 25-year-old from California, brought three Labububs back in April from an e-commerce platform for $150 (Rs 12,957). Then her fiancé purchased a fake Labubu at a gas station, and she was taken by it, according to a report in The New York Times (NYT). '… when I unboxed that Lafufu, it was just so funny looking,' she said.
Bystritsky said that the appeal for Lafufus was all about how they were a terrible copy of Labubu. The Lafufu purchased from the gas station had crooked ears and bright pink eyes, unlike the real doll.
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However, there is no shame in owing the Lafufu. Buying dupes is a growing trend among millennials and GenZers who look to normalise buying counterfeit luxury goods, reports NYT.
TikTok and Instagram have several Lafufu unboxing videos. The Labubu community on Reddit sees several users who share secrets of the best places to find Lafufus. Shein and Alibaba are said to be popular.
A woman walks through soap bubbles as people look at Labubu-themed toys on sale on a sidewalk in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Fake versions of the doll are growing in popularity across the world. Reuters
How do you tell Labubu from Lafufu?
The real version, the Labubu, has exactly nine teeth, nothing less, nothing more. It has a peach-pink face and comes in a matte box with an official QR code, which takes you to the Pop Mart website. The doll has a seal on its right foot that is visible only through a UV lamp.
The Labubu has clean lines and the fabric is of good quality. Lafufus are hurriedly made, poorly stitched and often come apart.
Are Lafufus bothering Pop Mart?
China is cracking down on Lafufus, which are being sold across the country in roadside stores and on the streets. Chinese customs officials have seized tens and thousands of fake dolls recently.
In China, the Lafufu costs 39 yuan (Rs 469) as compared to 159 yuan (Rs 1,913) for the original.
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Amid the rising popularity of the counterfeit dolls, Pop Mart has applied to trade mark the name, Lafufu. It is a defensive move against copyright infringement.
Authorities across the UK and Europe are also reportedly warning against Lafufus and confiscation counterfeit toys. The fake dolls are a choking hazard and are made with toxic chemicals. Close to 100 boxes have been seized from Wales, and 370 dolls from Scotland due to safety concerns, reports the Independent.
Like the Labubu, the Lafufu too seems to be omnipresent. And it has a fan following of its own.
With inputs from agencies