Rampant consumerism has become so entwined in our day-to-day lives that the word ‘Lafufu’ is widely recognised. For those that are luckily unaware, a ‘Lafufu’ is a counterfeit version of the recently-popularised toy/accessory: the Labubu. 

While Labubus are indisputably ugly they are at least safe and pose no threat to one’s health (though their environmental impact is damage enough). ‘Lafufus’, however, have undergone none of the official testing that their name-brand counterparts have. For a toy to be sold in the UK there must be a ‘UKCA’ mark either on the toy or the packaging. ‘Lafufus’ often have no such mark, deeming them unsafe to be sold as toys but they are now being sold as novelties or display items. Children do not care about this mark, and parents often are not checking. The dolls are being marketed and sold to children without having undergone official testing or gaining UKCA qualifications. Of course, they are mainly purchased and used by adults who seem unfazed by the notion of putting fashion before health (both their own and the planet’s).

Labubus are an emblem of capitalism and the surge in sales of fake variations should be incredibly alarming. Are fake plastic dolls the 2025 version of Shein and Temu? At just £2.99- £3.99 per ‘Lafufu’ (as opposed to £30- £90 per genuine Labubu) it would seem so. If you own a ‘Lafufu’ (or even a Labubu) I wonder will you still like it and wear it as an accessory on your Coach bag in a year? Or even in three months? The likelihood is that your ‘Lafufu’ will end up in landfill by 2026, adding to the rapidly growing issue of the environment and our impact on it.

The glamourisation of this fast-rising sector of throw-away fashion is a scary reflection of the economic state of our society. I truly believe that the rise in such frivolous purchases stems from the economic obstacles Gen Z faces. We have reached a point where instead of saving for a mortgage, a wedding or a baby we are buying incredibly harmful toys and trinkets because we, as a generation, are all too aware of the reality of our failing economy and the effect it will undoubtedly have on us. ‘Lafufus’ are the Gen Z version of a millennial’s designer handbag, we, like them, are told that there’s no point in saving for a house, but instead of buying a Gucci handbag that will go out of fashion in 3 years we are buying fake carcinogenic dolls that will go out of fashion in 3 months. What a horribly terrifying thought.

The rise in popularity of ‘Lafufus’ is concerning when considering the working conditions of the factories where they are made. Most of these counterfeit dolls are made in factories in the Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Hebei, both of which have reputations for abusing labour laws and creating illegal working environments. Essentially, these counterfeit dolls are made in sweatshops and the people making your favourite new trend are being paid, on average, the equivalent to £1.92 per hour. This provokes a larger discussion of priorities, it speaks volumes that a Western consumer is more focused on the price they pay than the conditions in which the product was made. This is a serious comment on our society, we have become so brainwashed by consumerism that we are failing to see the detrimental impacts we are having on real people.

The aggressive popularisation of the ‘Lafufu’ and the consequent neglect of safety, workers’ rights and the environment is testament to the lack of disposable income of earners, predominantly in the UK and the US. However, ignorant consumerism should be no excuse for the abandonment of morals.

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