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Labubu who? People are now ditching originals and buying the fake ones called Lafufus

Labubu who? People are now ditching originals and buying the fake ones called Lafufus

Time of India4 days ago
Labubu, the mischief-eyed plushie with devilish teeth, started as a niche collectible from Chinese brand Pop Mart, inspired by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung's storybook characters. But once celebs like Rihanna and Kim Kardashian flaunted them, they exploded on TikTok. Suddenly, everyone from Shanghai to London was queuing up for the furry creatures.
Meet Lafufu: The bootleg baddie everyone is now loving
Labubus became the status accessory. Retailing in blind boxes from $20 to $30, their secret editions sell for hundreds, with one life-sized version auctioned for over $170,000. But here is the plot twist: Pop Mart does not sell in India. So naturally, the bootlegs crept in. Enter the Lafufu.
When Bollywood girlie Ananya Panday casually flexed her Labubu keychains, she had no idea she was flaunting Lafufus. Her friend Orry exposed the doll drama in a viral video, revealing Ananya's friend had accidentally ordered 100 fake Labubus online. Tragic? Maybe. Iconic? Absolutely.
Lafufus are the chaotic evil twins of Labubus. With wonky eyes, crooked teeth, and random colour schemes, they are so bad, they are good. Victoria Bystritsky from California admitted her gas station Lafufu had her cracking up because it looked so off. Gen Zs are embracing the cringe and loving the irony.
Why Lafufu (the fake Labubu) is the new 'it' toy
Let us be honest. Rare Labubus are harder to get than a Taylor Swift ticket. Lafufus? Dirt cheap, street-available, and full of weird charm. Reddit threads are spilling tea on where to get them. TikTok is full of Lafufu unboxings. Shein, Alibaba, even gas stations are selling them.
And owning a Lafufu is not embarrassing anymore. Millennials and Gen Z are flipping the narrative, proudly posting their knockoffs. The counterfeit is becoming a cultural icon, not a shameful dupe.
Labubu vs Lafufu: How to spot the fake
Real Labubus have nine precise teeth, a peachy matte face, and a hidden UV seal. They come in premium packaging with QR codes. Lafufus? Expect questionable stitching, neon eyes, and chaotic energy.
Pop Mart is not laughing though
Pop Mart is fuming. China is seizing thousands of fake dolls. Europe is cracking down too, with 370 dolls seized in Scotland for being unsafe. The company has now filed a trademark for "Lafufu" as a defensive legal move. But for now, the Lafufu army continues to grow.
Also the peer pressure is too much now, are you planning to buy it anytime soon?
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