Their Labubus are fake, and they don't care

If your Labubu doll has more than nine teeth, or if it came in a box with a shiny bright finish, it may not be a Labubu at all. It may be a "Lafufu."

- Jessica Roy

NEW YORK — If your Labubu doll has more than nine teeth, or if it came in a box with a shiny bright finish, it may not be a Labubu at all. It may be a "Lafufu."

Knock-offs of the wildly popular elf-like doll, which are collectively called The Monsters and are sold exclusively by Chinese toy retailer Pop Mart, have become almost as popular as the real thing — and they are much easier to find.

Many of the real Labubus come in blind boxes with limited availability, so you do not know which one you are going to get until you open it, fueling a sense of scarcity and surprise that adds to the appeal. In a growing resale market, the dolls can go for much more than their US$20 to US$30 (S$25.50 to S$38) retail price range.

As keychains, the dolls have been wholeheartedly adopted by the fashion set. It is not uncommon to see a US$20 Labubu hanging from a US$20,000 Birkin bag.