Lafufu, a crude yet oddly endearing counterfeit of Pop Mart’s (9992) hit doll Labubu, is gaining unexpected fame overseas, sparking what some call a “fake economy.”
The name itself plays on the word “fake,” and Lafufu’s exaggerated flaws — from misaligned eyes to lumpy bodies — have made it a viral sensation across social media platforms in Europe and the US.
Users are sharing unboxing videos and memes, dubbing it “Labubu’s ugly stepsister” and embracing its chaotic charm. Financial media Business Insider remarked on its growing influence, calling it “cheap, dirty, and irresistibly weird.”
This came as some Chinese factories are offering replicas which are even pricier than the originals.
Mainland media Cover News reports that replicas of rare Labubu versions are selling for 180 yuan (HK$196.64), nearly double the 99 yuan of originals which are sold off.
In other news, the country’s export manufacturing hub of Yiwu is embracing the Labubu craze by forming clothing associations for the popular doll.
A businesswoman in Yiwu opened three stores in three months selling self-designed Labubu outfits, mainland media Qianjiang Evening News reports.
Her factory, with 700 workers, makes up to 30,000 pieces daily with no inventory left. It now produces over 1,000 styles, launching 10 to 20 new ones each day.
CICI CAO
