Quick answer
As a craze, yes. UK searches are down about 98% from the July 2025 peak and resale prices fell around 80%. Fakes are still a real hazard: Trading Standards have seized "Lafufus" with eyes and feet that come off. A real Labubu has nine teeth and a QR code that goes to Pop Mart.
What is Labubu?
A fluffy little monster with a mischievous grin and a row of jagged teeth, sold by Pop Mart in blind boxes, so you don't know which one you've got until you open it. In 2025 it was the toy everyone wanted, and the queues and resale prices showed it.
Is Labubu over?
Pretty much, at least as a craze. UK Google searches for "labubu" peaked in July 2025 and have since fallen to about 2% of that peak. Resale prices for the third-generation collectibles dropped about 80% from their high within three months, after Pop Mart ramped up production to roughly 30 million plush toys a month to beat the scalpers. Pop Mart's own sales have since fallen in the Americas and Asia outside China.
That's why it sits in the "dead" column on our radar. It's also the reason we watch every craze's search curve: Labubu went from the most-searched toy in the UK to almost nothing in about a year.
Are fake Labubus dangerous?
Yes, and this is the part that still matters. Fakes, nicknamed "Lafufus", have been seized across the UK. Westminster Trading Standards raided two West End shops in September 2025 and found 100 fakes at around £20 each, with feet that came off easily and eyes that popped out. The council leader warned that if a toddler swallowed those parts, "the results could be fatal". Rhondda Cynon Taf council seized fake Labubus and keyrings in July 2025 over chemical, choking and electrical risks.
How do I tell a real Labubu from a fake?
Rhondda Cynon Taf council's checklist:
- Count the teeth. A genuine Labubu has nine.
- Scan the QR code. It should go to Pop Mart's official site.
- Check the feet. Look for the Pop Mart logo. Newer ones have a UV stamp on the left foot only.
- Feel it. Soft fur, neat stitching, and matte packaging that feels smooth.
- Look for UKCA or CE marks and a UK importer's name on the box. No marks, no sale.
Should I still buy one?
If your kid loves it, sure. The good news is that the hype tax has gone, so you shouldn't be paying silly money. Buy from Pop Mart or a shop you trust, and be wary of £20 "bargains" in souvenir and convenience shops. That's where Westminster found its fakes.
