Lafufus

Nearly 35% of Popmart’s revenue comes from the new trending “Labubu” toy. However, these toys are being illegally reproduced as “Lafufu’s.” Lafufus are a fake version of Labubus that sell for the same price. Over 90% of the fake toys coming into the UK this year are Lafufus. This might not seem like a big problem, but many Lafufus contain safety hazards, such as harmful chemicals and choking hazards.

Kasing Lung, the original designer of the Labubus, has driven a significant portion of Pop Mart’s revenue since 2024, when influencers promoted these toys as cute and exquisite. The reason for the overwhelming success is their ugly-cute aesthetic. Authentic Labubus often sell for extremely high prices, which is how Pop Mart brings in profit. Rarer Labubus can sell for thousands of dollars; a mint green, human-sized Labubu in China sold for $150,000.

One toy manufacturer in Dongguan, Guangdong, China, stated that at its peak demand in July, it sold 150,000 to 160,000 fake Labubu toys, generating profits of up to 2 million yuan ($278,000). Many fans were extremely excited when the new toys dropped, and they sold out almost instantly.

Soon, fake manufacturing companies began to produce Lafufus. Despite the obvious concerns, Lafufu sales continued to grow. China remains the top manufacturer of counterfeit Labubu, despite authorities’ efforts to pursue them. The quality of the knock-off Lafufus is raising high concerns. Small children can easily break apart Lafufus due to their low quality, making the tiny pieces a choking hazard.

However, many people still purchase Lafufus because they can sing and dance, unlike authentic Labubus. The Lafufus used to be significantly cheaper than the real ones, but they have since increased in price. The price of any Labubu is approximately $35-$40. The high demand for Labubus is sustaining the chain of counterfeit Labubus.