China cracks down on fake ‘Lafufu' Labubus
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Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
TSA Staff in Disbelief at What Passenger Leaves Behind at Security
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) have shared a call out on social media after a passenger left behind an entire tray of their belongings while going through airport security. And one item in particular stood out. In the security tray alongside personal items and even a luxury bag was a Labubu collectible, In a post on Threads, TSA said: "Paging the passenger who forgot literally their entire tray of items at security, your labubu is looking at us weird plz come get it immediately. Thank you." The post, shared on Wednesday, racked up thousands of likes and hundreds of comments on Threads where people were stunned to see the items left behind at the airport. "How does someone leave their entire tray of stuff?" asked one commenter. While another wrote: "Digital camera and LV bag? What decade is this? If it weren't for the Labubu I would think this photo was from 2008." A picture of the items left behind in the tray at the TSA checkpoint. A picture of the items left behind in the tray at the TSA checkpoint. TSA/Threads Labubu, created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung and produced by POPMART, has exploded from underground art darling to global pop culture icon in the last year. Distributed primarily in "blind boxes," Labubu figures have become cult favorites, appearing in the hands of celebrities like Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, and David Beckham. The high-fashion market has even embraced the plush toys, with figures appearing on high-end Hermès Birkin bags and in the pages of Vogue magazine. According to official TSA data, approximately 90,000 to 100,000 items are left behind each month at security checkpoints across the U.S. That equates to over 1 million items every year, ranging from mundane toiletries and electronics to valuable jewelry, and, apparently even valuable toys like the Labubu. It isn't just items that get left behind either. In 2023, TSA agents reported collecting over $956,253 in forgotten coins and bills, nearly double the amount recorded in 2012. The agency is legally permitted to retain this unclaimed cash, which is then put toward aviation security programs and contributes to the federal treasury. And it's not the first time a TSA checkpoint incident has sparked attention. Last year security pulled a suspicious bag at the airport only to be stunned by the contents—a bag full to the brim of canned cooked pork. While another woman was stopped for having an entire rotisserie chicken in her bag to eat on the flight, confusing both agents and the internet. While previous TSA posts have shared unusual things found in people's luggage, including a weapon disguised as a marker pen and a stun gun that looked just like an iPhone.
Business of Fashion
3 hours ago
- Business of Fashion
The Rise of ‘Ugly-Cute' Labubu Dolls, in Four Charts
No one saw 2025's hottest accessory coming. Labubu dolls, cartoonish plush toys designed ten years ago by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung as part of his Nordic folklore-inspired character series 'The Monsters' and now distributed by Chinese toy maker Pop Mart, have become a viral sensation this summer. The figures, which typically cost around $20, rose to prominence after K-pop star Lisa began sporting them as bag charms last year. They've since sparked wraparound queues at malls around the world and have been spotted hanging off the handbags of celebrities including Rihanna, Dua Lipa, Central Cee and Marc Jacobs. Gen-Z and Gen Alpha customers have repeatedly sold them out; earlier this summer on TikTok Shop, a single, eight-hour live stream generated over $1.5 million in Labubu sales. With their flushed cheeks, mischievous eyes, wide grins exposing nine serrated teeth, pointed bunny ears and rotund, fuzzy bodies, Labubu dolls' popularity is baffling to many. But their 'ugly-cute' looks are precisely why they're so beloved among Gen-Z. 'Consumers, driven by the dual desire for emotional comfort and expressive individuality during challenging times, find resonance in Labubus' unique blend of innocence, irreverence, and charm,' wrote Michael Appler, vice president of marketing at Trendalytics, in an email. Their nostalgic and playful aesthetic reflects Gen-Z's disillusionment with the stark realities of adulthood during uncertain economic times. The dolls' rise to prominence is also reflective of the 'lipstick index' at work: As the cost of living soars and consumer sentiment dims, shoppers are more likely to pay for small, inexpensive 'luxuries' that double as unique status symbols. While cuteness has been trending in fashion for months now, with everything from polka dots to fruit jewellery gaining popularity, Labubus in particular have stood out. Though overall viral microtrends have slowed, the Labubu is the most visible success in a series of trending 'blind box' items — or small collectibles whose contents are sealed and unknown to the buyer at the time of purchase — with limited production that includes Smiski toys (green, glow-in-the-dark figures) and Sonny Angels (plastic, semi-nude babies collected by Bella Hadid and Victoria Beckham). The dopamine rush of these limited-edition mystery boxes also gamifies the purchasing experience, and the toys serve as an 'if-you-know-you-know' marker for fellow collectors. The collectibles' ascent has been astronomical, with the Chinese government even commencing efforts to crack down on counterfeit Labubu dolls, or 'Lafufus,' earlier this year. But despite recent bullish growth, Pop Mart's shareholders fear the collectibles will soon begin to lose traction, and that the company's success can't be sustained. Below, a look at Labubu dolls' trajectory in four charts. Trendalytics analysis found that year-on-year Google searches for Labubu soared by 9,800 percent in June. Pop Mart is also benefiting from continuing consumer interest in bag charms, which saw searches more than double this summer since 2024, while average weekly posts related to bag charms on TikTok have skyrocketed over twentyfold. In the first half of 2025, mentions of Labubu alongside Hermès generated almost $30 million in media impact value — a staggering 4 percent of total conversations around Hermès — as bag charms tapped into a desire for greater personalisation. '[The] broader cultural move toward individuality is a perfect backdrop for the rise of bag charms and, in turn, Labubu,' wrote StockX senior director of marketplace Drew Haines in an email. Rare Labubu dolls have been sold for vast premiums at auctions and on resale platforms. Since October, Pop Mart has been the number-one bestselling collectibles brand on StockX, with sales up 748 percent thus far in 2025. The toy maker, which had seen fewer than 100 trades in 2023, generated tens of thousands of sales on StockX last year. Though Pop Mart said it expects a profit jump of 350 percent in the first half of 2025, investors appear to have taken a more cautious outlook on the toy maker, likely because blind box trends tend to be volatile and lack longevity. As Labubu dolls rise in popularity, they can no longer be a secret of the 'in group' or an emblem of personal identity. If early pullback is any indication, Labubu mania may have already hit its peak.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
More than 200 fake Labubu dolls seized
More than 200 fake and potentially dangerous Labubu dolls have been seized by the Office of Fair Trading on the Isle of Man. Two stores in Douglas were found to have the dolls, and investigations discovered they were counterfeit and posed a choking hazard to children. The collectible toy from the Pop Mart 'Monsters' series has become hugely popular with children and teenagers in recent years, after launching in 2015. A government spokesman said demand for the dolls had "created an opportunity for imitation products to flood the market, many of which fail to meet essential safety standards, as in this case". "Counterfeit goods often bypass safety and quality checks, infringe intellectual property rights, and undermine legitimate businesses," he added. Signs of a fake include overly vibrant colours and an incorrect number of teeth, with authentic Labubus having nine. Senior Trading Standards Officer Jennifer Wood said: "Counterfeit toys are not just illegal, they can be dangerous." "These dolls were found to have small parts that could easily detach, posing a serious risk to children." Consumers should be "cautious when buying toys from unfamiliar or unverified sellers", she urged. Chairman of the Office of Fair Trading Tim Glover MHK said "protecting our residents, especially children" from unsafe products was "a top priority". He encouraged anyone who suspected a product for sale on the island might be unsafe or counterfeit "to report it immediately". The word Labubu is the name of a character in toy series the Monsters created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung. The toys gained worldwide attention in 2024 after a member of popular K-pop band Blackpink had a keychain Labubu attached to her bag. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. More on this story Adorable or just weird? How Labubu dolls conquered the world Related internet links Isle of Man Office of Fair Trading
