Don’t Get Catfished By Pirated Sanrio Merch, Here’s Why You Should Get The Real Deal In All Its Kawaii Glory

The importance of authentic Sanrio merch

Sanrio is a big part of many Singaporeans’ lives, with their extensive character line-up featuring heavily in our fave merch. Having appeared in everything from our kiddy cutlery sets and plush toys to our notebooks and stationery, it’s safe to say that Sanrio has always been a part of our childhood and beyond.

Not only does its wholesome series of characters give us major nostalgia, you’re likely to have a favourite or two – or more! – whose merch you most like to collect. Whether it’s cutesy blind box figurines or giant plushies, one thing’s for sure: it’s important to support only authentic Sanrio merch to avoid questionable quality from dubious knock-offs.

Sanrio’s anti-counterfeit efforts across Southeast Asia

Image credit: Sanrio

It’s always exciting to step into a themed MRT. Now, imagine that delight being amplified tenfold by the whimsy of Sanrio. As part of Sanrio’s anti-counterfeit efforts, Singapore’s MRT cabins have been decked out in eye-catching decor featuring beloved characters.

Image adapted from: Sanrio

What’s extra cool is that this MRT makeover had us twinning with our ASEAN buddies, Thailand and Indonesia, who saw similar cabin transformations in their own public transport systems.

Image credit: Sanrio

If you’ve recently been to the Land of Smiles, you might have also spotted Sanrio’s ad at popular malls like MBK Center.

So, what exactly is this ad campaign about? As dodgy knock-offs become more prevalent in the market, Sanrio launched a Southeast Asia-wide campaign to remind us true-blue fans of the importance of authenticity.

Image adapted from: @mizchiefmagik via Instagram

The campaign’s tagline is “protecting the smiles of our characters and fans”, and indeed, supporting authentic Sanrio merch is the best way to do justice to your fave characters, while also ensuring that you, as the customer, don’t end up with counterfeit goods of shoddy quality.

After all, you never know what sketchy manufacturing practices went behind producing that seemingly harmless counterfeit item. You could be purchasing something of poor workmanship, made from harmful materials that could do some serious damage to your health and safety, or borne from shady practices that you wouldn’t want any part in supporting.

The campaign also reminded us of all the fun ways that Sanrio has been in our lives, from the thrill of opening blind boxes to styling one-of-a-kind ‘fits themed around your Sanrio idol. Whatever it is, you can rest assured that you’re getting items of the utmost quality, simply by purchasing officially licensed products or shopping at official Sanrio stores.

Support authentic Sanrio merch

For guaranteed peace of mind that you’re getting only the real deal, make sure to purchase officially licensed products or shop at Sanrio’s official stores. In Singapore, that means the Sanrio Store at Takashimaya Level 4 as well as the Sanrio Gift Gate at Jewel Changi Airport.

Don’t fall prey to dodgy fakes that ruin the cuteness and whimsy of all things Sanrio that we’ve come to love. Spread this message to make sure fellow Sanrio lovers in your life know the importance of supporting the real deal.