Latest news with #Lafufu
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
The Labubu craze: What are the little monsters, why are they causing fights and should I have one hanging from my handbag?
For those of you not familiar, Sonny Angels originate from Japan. They have cute rosy cheeks, some form of hat and are usually trouser-less. Very odd when written out, but to look at they're adorable. Part of the appeal of these 'blind box' collectibles is that you can't see into the box that they come in, so you don't know which specific one you're going to get from the general theme you've chosen. I complimented Isobel's bag charm, and then joked about how many she had: her house is covered in them. They're not only keychains, people also stick them on shelves, laptops – any surface really. She informed me she had got an ultra-rare one which she bought for €15.90, but can be sold for around €150 online. Apparently bag charms are big business! If naked baby charms aren't your, ahem, bag, there's many more options. Jellycat stuffed animals – meant for kids but beloved by adults – have also hopped on the bag charm bandwagon, offering a wide range priced from €23-€30. Maybe you need a grumpy cloud to adorn your Birkin? Or you could keep it classic with a fluffy bunny. Or perhaps a monkey that sucks his thumb? In that case, look no further than a Monchhichi, the cute primate doll that first launched in 1974 whose latest incarnation is in keychains that start at around €20. Monchhichi hails from Japan, which is also the home to Sanrio, the company that created characters like Hello Kitty (also born in 1974) and Cinnamoroll, which are both popular for bag charms. However, today's most in-demand charms come from China. Labubus were created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung in 2015 but only recently sprung into mainstream popularity after Rihanna and K-Pop star Lisa, from band Blackpink, paired them with their designer bags. Little monsters inspired by Nordic fairy tales, these guys look like they're up to no good! You can buy a Labubu surprise box on for €19.20 – if you're lucky enough to find them in stock. The retailer recently halted selling the toys in its UK stores due to reports of fights between customers when new stock dropped. If you can't find the real deal, there's always 'Lafufu' – the name by which fake Labubus have become known. Yes, these little guys are in such high demand they're being counterfeited. Curious, I bought one from a store on Dublin's Moore Street. Just like a counterfeit handbag, it had all the tags included: a Pop Mart logo, a Kasing logo stamped on the foot and branding sewn onto the keychain strap. One major difference was that mine came in a clear box, so it wasn't a surprise. Probably for the best: I recently saw a TikTok of two girls unboxing their 'Lafufu' in the city centre. It looked nothing like the pictures listed on the box, one eye was bigger than the other and its feet were twisted in opposite directions… ouch. I'm undecided about this trend. On one hand, these charms are a symptom of late-stage capitalism. We're collecting items that are essentially worthless once they've been opened, and we're encouraged to buy them in mass – the more hanging off your purse the better. On the other hand, I think people are just trying to have fun. In a world that feels increasingly dark, why not have a silly little monster attached to your bag? Plus, there's always a cheaper Lafufu. I can't guarantee his eyes, or even his limbs, will even be facing in the right direction… but doesn't that add to the charm?
Time Out Dubai
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out Dubai
Where to buy viral Labubu dolls in Dubai: Official retailer and deliveries
It's the viral craze that's seen grown adults queue up in the Dubai heat to get their hands on an adorable monster. Yes, Labubu fever is well and truly in the UAE, and we're here for it. The collectable plush toys have taken over Instagram and Tiktok feeds across the world – but if you're getting one, then you've got to plan ahead to make sure you get the real thing and aren't stuck with a Lafufu. Real Labubus will bear the manufacturer Pop Mart logo and exactly nine teeth, while the fakes won't have detailed finishing or will have slightly off stitching. Demand for the mischievous elven monsters has soared in recent times following endorsements from top celebrities like Lisa from BLACKPINK. Best places to buy authentic Labubus in Dubai The Little Things The Little Things is a top spot for all things cute and collectable and is the official retailer of Pop Mart's Labubus. As the official retailer, you'll be able to get the dolls for the best price, with them costing Dhs79 at The Little Things stores in Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Bluewaters. Careem Don't fancy waiting in line? Careem is one of three top delivery apps that will deliver Labubus directly to your door. A limited stock of dolls is now on sale in the Careem Groceries section of the app, priced at Dhs305 each. City Centre Mirdif (Credit: City Centre Mirdif) City Centre Mirdif is hosting a three-day Labubu pop-up in collaboration with Hypeselection until Sunday June 1. The pop-up has a claw machine challenge where you could win a free Labubu (if you spend Dhs500 at any mall outlet), instant purchase of Labubus, hands-on customisation and an AI photobooth. You can only enter the set-up if you have the SHARE app. Deliveroo (Credit: Deliveroo) Another app offering deliveries of Labubus direct to your door, Deliveroo has daily drops of dolls every day at 4pm. Through Deliveroo, you can order single or six-pack sets starting from Dhs280. noon minutes The third offering available via delivery, noon minutes will deliver Labubu directly to you in under 20 minutes. Priced at Dhs299, each box will be a blind mystery. Daily stocks are limited but are currently being restocked daily. You Better Fly Streetwear, sneakers and collectable store You Better Fly is selling the dolls at their Dubai Mall location. Priced between Dhs250 and Dhs300, they're selling multiple drops of Labubu including the Coca-Cola collab. Mad Kicks Mad Kicks is selling a range of Labubus at its stores on Bluewaters and Box Park. The sneaker store has a wide selection of drops available, priced from around Dhs300. Beau Restaurant You can get a free Labubu with Petit meals at Beau Restaurant. You'll get a burger, fries, drink, apple pie and a cute plush toy. That sounds good to us. This one is available while stocks last, and it's advised that you order after 7pm. Noon – 1am, daily (while stocks last). Jumeirah Street, Jumeirah 3. (04 224 7348) Not travelling? Here's what to do in Dubai The best pool day deals in Dubai Where to get beach and pool access in Dubai New brunches in Dubai: top spots to try From parties to buffets, here's where to check out this weekend Brilliant things to do in Dubai at night What to do once the sun has set in the city
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Major scam warning as Aussies caught in viral toy frenzy conned with fakes: 'Burst into tears'
Australians wanting to jump on the Labubu frenzy are being warned about a raft of fake toys that look almost identical to the real deal. Aussies have gone gangbusters for the monster plushies that usually retail for around $32, with some standing in line for hours to get their hands on one. Stores rapidly sell out of Labubus, and it's leaving shoppers upset and fed up, thinking they'll never get to hop on the craze. But some have come across stores selling them a little cheaper than normal and these shoppers have quickly discovered they're not an official Labubu. This scam has become so popular that the fake toys have earned the nickname Lafufu. Labubu frenzy as toys Aussies wait hours for sell for $1,000 online: 'Hottest trend' ANZ customer 'dumbfounded' by 'cashless' incident at bank branch Rare 50 cent coin worth nearly 40 times more: 'Hold onto them' The tricky part about this scam is that not only is it almost impossible to tell the fake from the real apart, but you might not know you've been scammed until you take the box out of the toy. That's because part of Labubu's whole craze is that it's a mystery box, and you won't know which of the six different toys you'll get until you take it out of the bag. But content creator HeyAsharie has discovered the subtle differences on the box, as well as the toy itself, to help you tell the difference.A Labubu and Lafufu box look virtually identical to the untrained eye. But the Lafufu's colours are a bit more intense, and the Labubu one contains the Pop Mart logo on the top left, which is the Chinese toy company that makes them. One side that contains warning labels and other information is much more detailed on the Labubu box and takes up almost the whole side, while the Lafufu's information only takes up a small portion. The other side is pretty much indistinguishable from each other and shows the six different types of toys., but the Lafufu's colours are, again, a bit brighter. The top's colours are slightly different and the way the box rips open is different due to different manufacturing. When you pull the bag out of the box, they are fairly similar, however the Labubu has the Pop Mart logo on it and The Monsters written on the top. When it comes to the toy, again, they could be twins if you didn't know any better. However, the Lafufu's legs are wider than the Labubu, its eyes are a different material, its ears are further apart, its face is wider and its nose is a different colour. Some Lafufus can look very different to the real deal depending on who has made them, but HeyAsharie's video highlighted how some scammers have deliberately made them look very similar. Sydney mum Lisa revealed her husband was duped into getting a Lafufu for their daughter after spotting what they thought was a real one at a small pop up store in their local shopping centre. '[My daughter] kept talking to me about these little dolls I knew nothing about - except for the fact that people were lining up for hour HOURS to get one. And don't even get me started on the price,' she told Kidspot. However, this Lafufu was being sold for $25, which should have been the first warning sign that it was not a legit Labubu. When the daughter realised it was a fake, she burst into tears. 'While I initially laughed at how bad the fake was, I felt bad for her and wondered how many other Aussies are getting scammed out there with people taking advantage of a craze and advantage of parents who don't know what they're meant to be looking for,' Lisa said. So, take this as a warning if you spot what you think is a Labubu being sold somewhere. While all the signs should be on the box, you'll usually be able to tell if it's real by the hordes of people lining up to get one. People have even started selling them on eBay for up to $1, in to access your portfolio
Business Insider
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Labubu's bootleg cousin 'Lafufu' is janky, cheap, and weirdly irresistible. It's fueling a thriving market of fakes.
As soon as I ripped open the packaging of my brand-new Lafufu, I giggled. It was my fault. Instead of buying an authentic Labubu from Chinese toymaker Pop Mart, I caved and bought a Lafufu. The sad, budget fuzzy doll stands in for the real deal — a toy that has taken the world by storm and made millions for its Chinese owner. The term Lafufu is an affectionate nickname for these counterfeit Labubus and is often used in videos on social media platforms like TikTok. The most obvious knockoff sign was my Lafufu's lopsided face, which made its creepy smile look extremely unsettling. The next thing I spotted was its missing hands, but upon closer inspection, I saw they had been attached backward. I compared it to my coworker's real Labubu and noticed that the devil really is in the details. The paint job on the legit Labubu was cleaner. My Lafufu, meanwhile, felt flimsier, and its white fur was coarser. The Lafufu's limbs weren't completely mobile — its feet could not be rotated 360 degrees. And most unfortunately, my poor Lafufu also appeared to have a receding hairline, while the real Labubu had an ample crown of fur on its head. I snagged the Lafufu toy for 9.77 Singapore dollars, or about $7.50, on local e-commerce platform Shopee. The real toy of this size from Pop Mart costs SG$24.90. On Shopee, dozens of listings offer various Lafufus, with prices as low as SG$0.60. Purchasing it was a two-minute affair, a far cry from waiting in line for hours outside a Pop Mart outlet ahead of product drops. In the UK, Pop Mart has temporarily paused physical sales of the toy because queues were getting out of hand. Labubu and The Monsters toy line was a lucrative product category for Pop Mart in 2024, with sales totaling 3.04 billion yuan, or about $426 million. Pop Mart's stock is up more than 530% in the last year. While some people may buy Lafufus as a Labubu replacement, others are going out of their way to secure the fake version. Joey Khong, a trends manager at London-based market research agency Mintel, said, "Like most fakes, Lafufus reflect a combination of systemic market inequalities and genuine human motivations: the desire to belong, to experience joy, and to participate in the cultural moment." Juda Kanaprach, the cofounder of Singapore-based market research firm Milieu Insight, told me Lafufu is having its "own little cultural moment." "Whether it's about humor, aesthetics, or just jumping on a trend, everyone's coming at it from a different angle," Kanaprach said. "And that, to me, makes this whole thing more than just a 'fake toy' moment." Representatives for Pop Mart did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. A cheaper, funnier alternative to Labubu Lafufu buyers told me they love the fakes because of how ugly they are, not in spite of it. Miabella Rivera, a college freshman from San Diego, said she got a Lafufu for $12 because the real ones were "impossible to get." "My Lafufu came without eyes, so I had to superglue them on, but it still turned out really cute," Rivera said. Renn Lazzerin, who works at an elementary school in Los Angeles as a behavior analyst, has two Lafufus. The first was an unintentional buy — she was scammed by an online seller claiming the doll was authentic. But soon after, she bought a second Lafufu knowingly, because of how ugly it was. "The eyes pop out, it has blush blindness, and the teeth are misprinted," Lazzerin said. "The fake Labubu offers a different serotonin rush than getting an original. It's like, how ugly can it get?" she added. Khong, the trends manager, said fakes can often look more eccentric or intriguing than real Labubus. "While anyone with enough money can buy a 'real Labubu' straight from the store, a rare, well-made fake with a unique outfit or expression might require more taste, effort, or insider knowledge to source," he said. Austin D'Souza, the managing director of Ozzie Collectables, an Australian collectibles store, said Labubus are made with high-quality materials. "Authentic Labubus are crafted with care and creativity, and counterfeit versions can detract from the unique experience that collectors seek," he said. "The packaging of genuine products typically features high-quality printing and branding, whereas counterfeit packaging may appear less polished or have inconsistencies," D'Souza added. Buying a Lafufu has convinced some people to pick up real Labubus Despite being obvious fakes, Lafufus may be driving up demand for authentic Labubus. "Even though they're fake, they keep the brand in people's minds. Everyone's sharing them online, making fun of them, and talking about them, which keeps the attention and interest around the real Labubu going," said Kanaprach, from Milieu Insight. "Buying a fake Labubu was not good enough for me, so I punched the real one to make me feel better about owning just one," said Kimberly Hernandez, a special education assistant from Los Angeles. The popularity of counterfeits comes with risks Kanaprach said Pop Mart needs to stay ahead of the game because too many fakes could flood the market. At some point, well-made fakes may become indistinguishable from the real deal. "Labubu just needs to keep things special, always come up with new designs, keep it limited, and remind people why the original is still worth it," she said. Khong said a larger problem for brands like Pop Mart is keeping their core fans engaged and satisfied "while riding the volatility of popularity or trend cycles." While I see the allure of a Labubu — despite never having purchased one myself — I think I'm satisfied with my SG$9.77 Lafufu. After a few days of staring at its lopsided grin, its deformities have even become endearing.
NBC News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
What is Labubu? Why is she so popular? We have answers.
If you're reading this, odds are you've seen Labubu somewhere — on TikTok, in a group chat — and now are wondering: what even is a Labubu? First things first: Labubu is a girl. People often assume she's a boy (I did too, at first), but the fanbase is quick to correct that. Labubu also isn't a standalone character — she's part of a larger group called s 'The Monsters,' created by Hong Kong artist and author Kasing Lung. The Monsters debuted in a Nordic mythology-inspired picture book trilogy in 2015, and by 2019, toy giant Pop Mart had turned them into the viral vinyl collectibles we know today. Labubu is described as an 'elvish creature,' and according to Pop Mart, 'despite a mischievous look, she is kind-hearted and always wants to help, but often accidentally achieves the opposite.' She may look small and scary, but she means well. If you spot a creature that looks like Labubu but has a spiked tail, that's not her. That is Zimomo, the leader of The Monsters. And no, Zimomo and Labubu are not a thing. Labubu already has a boyfriend: Tycoco, a skeleton-looking vegetarian monster. Why is Labubu so popular? Labubu's rise in popularity can largely be credited to Lisa from BLACKPINK, who's professed her love for the creature in interviews and on her social media. Since then, demand has exploded with fans lining up overnight and paying well over retail. (Present company included).) Today, The Monsters series is Pop Mart's best-selling franchise and generated $419 million in sales last year, according to NBC News. Although the prized items are the vinyl plush bag charms, you can still get your hands on other Labubu figures, accessories and brand collaborations. The Monsters Let's Checkmate Series Pendant Blind Box $14.99 popmart What to Consider The Monsters Classic Series Sparkly Plush Pendant Blind Box $17.99 popmart What to Consider What is a Lafufu? With Labubu's rising fame comes an unfortunate side effect: counterfeits. Fake Labubus — affectionately dubbed 'Lafufus' — are flooding the market, and they're surprisingly convincing from afar. But up close? You'll start to notice the differences. Here's how to spot a fake: Teeth count: Labubu has exactly nine teeth. No more, no less. Facial details: Look closely at the eyes and blush — fakes tend to have off-color paint and sloppy finishing. Stitching: The forehead stitching on a Lafufu is usually uneven or frayed. Foot stamp: Real Labubus have the Pop Mart logo and 'O Kasing' engraved on the soles of their feet. Why trust NBC Select? I am the editorial projects manager for NBC Select and have tested hundreds of products across categories like fitness apparel, tech, luggage, skin care and more. I've been a Labubu fan for only three months but I've already managed to get my hands on three of them. I'm an avid collector of blind box products like Sonny Angels, Mofusand, Peach Riot and of course Labubu.
