Labubu dolls accounted for 90% of the £3.5 million worth of counterfeit toys seized at the UK border this year, based on data from the Home Office. The Labubu character was created by artist Kasing Lung from Hong Kong and gained popularity through a collaboration with toy retailer Pop Mart. Although primarily marketed to adults as collectibles and fashion accessories—with some packaging indicating they are suitable only for those over 15—Labubu dolls are also favored by younger audiences.
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) reported that nearly three in four of the seized toys failed safety tests, as these “dangerous fakes” were found to contain harmful chemicals or represented choking hazards. In response to the risks associated with counterfeit products, the IPO launched a campaign named “Fake Toys, Real Harms,” aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of purchasing such items. Findings indicate that 70% of buyers of counterfeit toys are driven by lower costs, with only 27% prioritizing safety when making purchases.
Real Labubu dolls, particularly rare editions, can command prices in the hundreds of pounds on resale platforms. The demand became so high that Pop Mart paused in-store sales in all 16 UK locations in May due to reported altercations among customers. Sales are now conducted via an online lottery system.
In a report, the IPO revealed that 236,000 out of 259,000 seized counterfeit toys in 2025 were Labubus. Almost half of the consumers who bought fake toys reported issues, including toys breaking quickly, unsafe labeling, unpleasant odors, and some instances of illness in children. Helen Barnham, the IPO’s deputy director of enforcement, noted that these products evade essential safety checks, emphasizing the need for vigilance in preventing such items from entering homes. The IPO cautioned that the Labubu trend might represent “just the tip of the iceberg” in terms of counterfeit toys.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8645pdq4e0o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss