According to Forbes, Labubus became popular when A-listers like Lisa (of Blackpink and White Lotus fame), Dua Lipa, and Rihanna began featuring the doll. The power of celebrity endorsement is real, as it builds consumer confidence according to Wharton Neuroscience Initiative executive director Elizabeth (Zab) Johnson.
A 2022 paper Johnson co-authored revealed that a celebrity's persuasive power through endorsements is rooted in human evolution and biology. Humans and primates alike tend to follow individuals who are perceived as “high-status” and “high-prestige.”
“Your strong preferences — if you absolutely love or hate something — don’t move,” Johnson said of a celebrity’s influence on purchasing products. “But there is a lot of wiggle room in there with products you might not yet have strong feelings about.”
However, celebrity influence can have a ceiling, and it takes a different level of push to make a trend go global. In Labubu’s case, it became a form of escapism after the pandemic in late 2022, according to China digital expert Ashley Dudarenok.
"Post-pandemic, a lot of people in China felt that they wanted to emotionally escape... and Labubu was a very charming but chaotic character. It embodied that anti-perfectionism,” she told the BBC.
The popularity of Labubu dolls has led to the emergence of knock-offs, which are apparently called Lafufus. They have garnered mixed reactions so far, mainly of shock and dismay.
Unfortunately for these collectors, Lafufus will continue to spread as the demand for their authentic counterparts grows. Likewise, people who own knock-offs also feel a sense of achievement.
“Possession of fake luxury fashion also raises positive associations of belonging and acceptance from a desired social group,” author and fashion psychology graduate Jane West wrote in an article.
What about you, readers? What do you make of this labubu/lafufu fiasco? Do you agree that it is a form of end-stage capitalism as some of you feel? Share your thoughts in the comment boxes below!
