Year of the sad horse: Factory error turns plush toy into viral hit

A factory mistake in eastern China has produced an unlikely Lunar New Year bestseller, as a plush horse with an upside down mouth has gone viral among young shoppers.

At Yiwu International Trade City, a red plush figure known as the crying horse has become one of the season’s most sought-after toys.

The sad expression appeared after “a worker sewed its mouth upside down by mistake,” said shop owner Zhang Huoqing of Happy Sister.

She said a customer almost returned it, but online posts quickly transformed it into a trend.

Users joked the crying horse showed “how you look at work,” while the smiling one showed “how you look after work.”

Zhang said customers embraced the flawed version, adding that “it suits the spirit of today’s corporate slaves.”

Stocks at her shop sold out repeatedly as customers lined up for restocks.

Vendor Lou Zhenxian of Vision Plush Toys said she was surprised by the demand.

“To be honest, I think this crying horse is ugly. I don’t like it at all,” she said, but added that producers must follow what buyers want.

She said its appeal reflects “the kind of emotional value young people look for these days.”
 

It also taps into a broader trend for so-called “ugly cute” toys, popularised in recent years by characters such as Pop Mart’s toothy monster Labubu.

• Zigong Lantern Festival opens in southwest China ahead of Lunar New Year

Both smiling and crying versions continue to draw steady crowds, with sellers expecting strong sales through the holiday as the Year of the Horse begins.

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China New Year Lunar New Year