Some of the wildly popular Labubu dolls made by the Chinese company Pop Mart have been sold with clothing containing cotton from the Xinjiang region of western China, whose import is banned by the US government due to its association with forced labour. The New York Times bought 20 Labubus from various retailers in 2025 and had them independently tested.
The tests confirmed that clothing pieces — mainly teeshirts — from 16 of the 20 dolls contained Xinjiang cotton. A Pop Mart spokeswoman said the company would investigate the presence of Xinjiang cotton in its supply chains and that it held itself and its suppliers to "the highest standards." She added that only a small percentage of the dolls' clothes contained cotton at all and that it was working on switching to alternative materials for the US market.
Non-profit groups said they have submitted information about Pop Mart's use of Xinjiang cotton and other alleged labour violations to officials at US Customs and Border Protection. The Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act effectively bans goods from Xinjiang from entering the US by default.
Key Takeaways:
1. 16 of 20 Labubu dolls tested contained Xinjiang cotton in their clothing.
2. Xinjiang cotton is subject to a US import ban over forced-labour concerns.
3. Pop Mart says it will investigate Xinjiang cotton in its supply chain.
4. The company is switching to alternative materials for the US market.
5. Non-profits have shared findings with US Customs and Border Protection.
