How to Spot Fake Labubu Keychains and Plushies in 2025
So, you love Labubu? Join the club! These little monsters are super popular, and everyone wants one. But here’s the tricky part: when something gets this famous, fakes start showing up.
Getting a fake Labubu can be a real bummer. It’s not the same quality, and it just doesn’t feel right for your collection.
This guide is designed to help you identify fake Labubu items, particularly as we approach 2025.
Counterfeiters are getting clever, so we need to be smarter. We’ll teach you how to check for fake Labubu keychains and plushies.
Why Authenticity Matters: More Than Just a Toy
“Does it matter if my Labubu is real or fake?” you might ask. Yes, of course it does! Let’s talk about why.
First, think about the musician, Kasing Lung, and POP MART. If you buy a real Labubu, you’re helping their great work and creativity. It helps them make more cool stuff for us to enjoy.
Labubu things that are real are also well-made and use care. They must meet safety standards. Fakes? Not really. They could be made of unsafe, cheap materials.
If you’re a collector, you know that real Labubu things can keep their value or even go up! Fakes? Not so much. They might be made with cheap stuff that isn’t safe.
And if you’re a collector, you know that real Labubu items can hold their value, or even go up! Fake ones, well, they’re pretty much worthless in the collector’s world. Plus, there’s just a special joy in owning a real, authentic piece. It feels good!
Red Flags: General Warning Signs When Shopping for Labubu
Before you even hold a Labubu in your hand, there are some warning signs. These red flags can pop up when you’re shopping online or in lesser-known places. Keep an eye out for these!
Is the price way, way cheaper than everywhere else? If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Super low prices are a big hint that you might be looking at a counterfeit POP MART Labubu.
Where are you buying it from? Be careful with sellers who don’t have many reviews or look brand new on big online shops. Sometimes, shady sellers pop up quickly and disappear just as fast.
Look at the pictures the seller is using. Are they only using perfect, official photos from POP MART? Or are the photos of the actual item blurry, dark, or low quality? Honest sellers will show you clear pictures of what you’re getting.
Lastly, check out seller reviews if you can. If other buyers have had bad experiences or mention fakes, that’s a big warning. No reviews at all can also be a bit suspicious for a new seller.
Key Differences to Spot Fake Labubu Keychains
Okay, let’s say you have a Labubu keychain, or you’re looking at one closely. How can you tell if it’s a real treasure or a sneaky fake? We need to play detective and look at the details.
Packaging Analysis – Your First Clue
The box or packaging is your very first clue. Don’t just rip it open! Take a good look.
How does the box feel? Real Labubu packaging uses sturdy cardboard and has nice, clear printing. Fake Labubu keychains often come in flimsy boxes. The printing might look blurry, the colors could be off, or there might even be spelling mistakes!
Check for any official POP MART logos and fonts. Fakes might get these slightly wrong – the shape might be weird, or the text might look different. If it’s a blind box, does it look like it’s been opened and resealed? A “new” blind box should be perfectly sealed.
Look for official seals or hologram stickers. POP MART sometimes uses these to show that an item is real. Fakes might miss these entirely, or the sticker might look cheap and poorly made.
Also, check the barcode and any product information on the box. Is it all there? Does it look correct? Missing or weird info is a bad sign.
The Labubu Keychain Itself – Material & Paint
Now, let’s examine the actual Labubu keychain. This is where fakes often really show their poor quality.
How does the Labubu feel in your hand? Genuine Labubu keychains are usually made from good-quality vinyl or PVC.
They have a nice weight and feel solid. Fakes often use cheap, lightweight plastic. It might feel sticky, too soft, or have a rough texture.
Look closely at the paint job. This is a big one! On a real Labubu, the paint is neat, the colors are bright and correct, and there are no messy edges.
On a fake, you might see sloppy paint. Colors might bleed into each other. The finish could be uneven, or the shades might be totally wrong compared to official pictures of that Labubu series.
Check the sculpture and all the little details. Labubu has distinct features, like his toothy grin and elf-like ears. On fakes, these details can look mushy, blurry, or not very sharp.
Accessories might be poorly made or missing details. The proportions of the figure might even look a bit off. Sometimes, a fake Labubu will also feel much lighter than a real one because of the cheap materials.
Logos, Markings, and Accessories
Don’t forget to look for the official brand markings. These are important clues to spot fake Labubu items. Real Labubu figures usually have POP MART and sometimes Kasing Lung’s name or logo printed or molded on them.
This might be on the back, under a foot, or on the keychain attachment itself. Fakes might miss these markings completely. Or, the markings might be misspelled, blurry, or look poorly done.
Examine the keychain clasp. Official Labubu keychains usually have a sturdy, good-quality metal clasp. Fakes often skimp here, using flimsy clasps that look cheap and might break easily.
Many Labubu keychains, especially from blind boxes, come with a little collector’s card or leaflet. On a real one, this card will have good quality printing and be made of decent paper.
On fakes, the card might be missing. Or, the printing could be terrible, the paper super thin, or the information wrong.
Spotting Fake Labubu Plushies: What to Look For
Labubu isn’t just keychains; there are adorable plushies too! And yes, counterfeiters make fake Labubu plushies as well. Here’s how to tell them apart.
Fabric and Stuffing Quality
The feel of the plushie is a huge giveaway. Authentic Labubu plushies are made with soft, high-quality fabric. It feels nice to touch and cuddle.
Fake Labubu plushies often use rough, cheap-feeling fabric. It might feel scratchy or thin. Give the plushie a gentle squeeze. How’s the stuffing?
Real ones are usually evenly stuffed and feel pleasantly full. Fakes might be lumpy, unevenly stuffed, or have too little (making them floppy) or too much stuffing (making them hard).
Stitching and Construction
Take a close look at how the plushie is put together. Good craftsmanship is a hallmark of genuine products.
On an authentic Labubu plush, the seams and stitching will be neat and tight. You shouldn’t see lots of loose threads or messy stitches.
On a fake, the stitching is often a weak point. You might see sloppy, uneven seams. Threads might be coming undone, or the stitches could be very loose.
Also, look at the overall shape and proportions of the plushie. Does it look like the official pictures of that Labubu plush? Fakes can have distorted features. The ears might be the wrong shape, the body might be too fat or too skinny, or the limbs might be oddly attached.
Facial Features and Embroidery
Labubu’s face is his most recognizable feature, so fakers often mess this up. Pay close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
On a real Labubu plush, these features are usually well-made and correctly placed. Embroidery will be neat and detailed. If there are plastic eyes, they’ll be good quality and securely attached.
On fake Labubu plushies, facial features can be misaligned – an eye might be higher than the other, or the mouth might be crooked.
Embroidery can be sloppy, with loose threads or fuzzy details. Sometimes, fakers use cheap plastic eyes that look dull, or they might even paint on details that should be embroidered.
Also, check the color accuracy of the fabric used for the face and body. Fakes might use colors that are slightly off from the official Labubu shades.
Tags and Labels
Don’t forget the tags! Authentic Labubu plushies will have official brand tags and care labels.
These tags are usually well-printed and made of good material.
Fake Labubu plushies might be missing these tags altogether. If they do have tags, they often look cheap. The printing might be blurry, smudged, or contain spelling errors.
The material of the tag itself might feel thin or flimsy. If you have a known genuine Labubu plush, compare its tags to the one you’re inspecting. The differences can be quite obvious.
The 2025 Factor: How Counterfeiters Are Evolving
It’s important to know that people who make fakes are always trying to get better.
What might be an easy way to spot fake Labubu today might be harder tomorrow. As we head towards 2025, we can expect counterfeiters to try even harder to make their fakes look like the real thing.
This means we all need to stay sharp and pay even closer attention to details. Don’t rely on just one sign. Look at everything – the packaging, the materials, the paint, the stitching, the logos.
Always compare the item you’re looking at with official pictures of Labubu from POP MART or trusted retailers. This guide gives you a strong checklist, and knowing how to tell if Labubu is real 2025 will depend on using all these tips together.
Where to Confidently Buy Authentic Labubu
So, with all these fakes around, where can you actually buy real Labubu and not worry?
This is super important!
The safest bet is always official POP MART channels. This includes their official physical stores, if you have one nearby, and their official online stores. This is where new releases come out first, and you know they are 100% real.
Next, look for trusted specialized retailers. For collectors seeking peace of mind and a curated selection of genuine Labubu items, reputable specialized retailers like LabubuPlushKeychains.com are an excellent choice.
They focus on providing authentic Labubu keychains and merchandise, taking the guesswork out of your purchase. Shops like these understand collectibles and care about authenticity.
You can also look for well-known art toy stores that have a good reputation.
These stores have been around for a while and are known for selling legitimate products.
If you’re buying from big online marketplaces like eBay or Amazon, be extra careful. Check the seller’s ratings and reviews very, very closely. If POP MART has an official storefront on those platforms, prioritize buying from them. Always try to get authentic Labubu!
Conclusion
Phew, that was a lot of info! But knowing how to spot fake Labubu products is a superpower for any collector. It means you can build your collection with confidence and joy.
Remember to always be a little bit of a detective. Check the price, the seller, the packaging, and all the little details on the Labubu itself. With this knowledge, you’re well-equipped to avoid fakes and enjoy the real deal.
Happy collecting, and may your Labubu collection be filled with genuine, adorable monsters!
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