Labubu dolls: Navigating the world of collectibles and counterfeits
Image: Rob Engelaar / ANP MAG / ANP via AFP
Labubu toys, created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung and sold by Chinese toymaker Pop Mart, have become a viral and profitable sensation around the world.
Labubu dolls have taken over the globe, with many people wanting to get their hands on the squishy plush toy. The demand has opened a door for counterfeit products to flood the market.
In May, retailer Pop Mart suspended in-store sales of Labubu toys amid rising concerns over public safety and staff threats, following reports of global thefts and queue violence tied to the sought-after collectibles.
A woman holds a Labubu plush figure at the opening of Germany's first Labubu store in the Alexa shopping center.
Image: Jens Kalaene/dpa Picture-Alliance via AFP
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Many of the fake Labubu's flooding the market have been deemed unsafe, according to Britain's Chartered Trading Standards Institute.
'Counterfeit Labubu dolls are poorly made and unsafe. Many contain small, detachable parts such as eyes, hands, and feet, which present a serious choking hazard to young children. Loose stitching and exposed stuffing further increase the risk of suffocation,' read the notice.
'Without proper safety checks, they may also contain toxic substances such as lead, harmful dyes, or banned plasticisers.'
In just one month, over 2,000 Labubu's were confiscated from 13 retailers in North Tyneside, with further seizures in Greater Manchester, Humberside, North Somerset, and Scotland.
Problems of counterfeiting and intellectual property (IP) infringement have become increasingly prominent as Chinese cultural and creative products gain growing influence in the world market.
Image: Li He / XINHUA / Xinhua via AFP
Jerry Burnie, Head of Toy Safety at British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA), said: 'Counterfeit toys are a significant risk as they are unlikely to meet the strict toy safety standards required of the legitimate toy maker.
'When shopping for branded items, we would always recommend researching the toy brand and try to buy from the company directly or through a reputable retailer who you can easily return the product.
'If you are buying online, particularly through an online marketplace, then include the name of the toy company in the search and compare the listing against the toy company's own website.'
Here is how you can tell if a Labubu is fake:
Genuine Pop Mart Labubu dolls feature a holographic sticker, a scannable QR code linking to the official Pop Mart website, and (on newer editions) a UV stamp on one foot.
Overly vibrant colours, poor stitching, or the wrong number of teeth (authentic Labubus have nine) are signs of a fake.
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