Fashion or Imitation?

From Labubu to Photocopied People – A Story of Consumption

Suddenly, everyone is carrying the same toy. The same figure, same facial expression, same colorful keychain. Labubu. Is it cute? Debatable. Meaningful? Maybe not. But it’s trending. And that alone is enough reason for thousands of people to buy it.But do we truly like it? Or are we buying it just to say, “I have it too”

Cultural Frenzies and the Chain of Consumption

The recent Labubu craze feels like a reflection of a much deeper issue. It’s not just limited to toys anymore — it has spread to clothes, accessories, even wall décor. Why? Because everything that’s popular suddenly becomes something we must own.It feels almost like an obligation.

But here’s the real question:Do we genuinely like it, or are we simply afraid of being left out?Because today, buying something isn’t just about consumption — it’s about validation. It’s about belonging.

The Desire to Belong and the Fear of Exclusion

Have you heard kids saying this to one another lately?“Wait, you don’t have Labubu?”That small sentence carries so much weight: exclusion, fear of missing out, the urge to fit in... And it’s not just children. Adults are caught in the same spiral.

Blindly following what’s presented as “fashion” often means abandoning your own taste and agency. Most of the time, we don’t even want the thing itself — we just don’t want to be left behind.

People Like Photocopies

That’s why cities are now filled with people wearing the same outfits, carrying the same accessories, posing the same way. It’s as if “fashion” today comes from one single photocopy machine.Individuality is being replaced with sameness.And the consequences might be deeper than we realize: a generation searching for identity on store shelves, drifting further from originality.

So What Can We Do?

Honestly? I don’t know. I have no magical solution for stopping this madness.But I do know one thing:The first step toward being at peace with yourself is to stop trying to be like everyone else.You don’t have to like something just because it’s trendy. In fact, not liking something because it’s trendy can be an act of quiet rebellion.