Lola faux fur blankets have conquered Instagram, TikTok and even New York fashion week. Promising “life-changing softness”, the company charges an eye-watering $275 for a throw-sized blanket. Are they worth it?
To cut to the chase, no. The more complex answer is that Lola blankets do have some advantages over the competition, but many of the features and claims put forth are pretty overblown. And for less than half the price, you can get something that’s just as good.
As a textile expert, I researched the material science behind the Lola, where they’re made, and tested an affordable dupe you can buy for a third of the price.
Lola Faux Fur Blanket
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What are Lola Blankets?
Lola blankets have a very sweet origin story centered on Amy “Lola” Higham, a mother who left each of her children a faux fur blanket to comfort them after her passing from breast cancer. To this day, the company continues to support multiple breast cancer charities.
Each blanket is double sided with Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified faux fur, which is designed to resist stains and shedding. The company claims that no two blankets are exactly the same because they are hand-dyed.
I ordered a Lola for testing, and I can attest the double layer of Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified faux fur does indeed feel incredibly luxurious. Because the Lola blanket is so dense, it feels like it could shield you from any draft. It’s very snuggable.
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What are some Lola alternatives?
Bedsure Gentlesoft Bubble Faux Fur Blanket
Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified faux fur is not exclusive to Lola. Do a little digging, and you can find import records and see that the majority of Lola Blanket’s suppliers come from various mega factories in China. One of these suppliers is Nanjing Olive Textiles Co, which you can pursue on sites like Alibaba and find very similar blankets: same material, same sizes, same double hem.
The Bedsure Gentlesoft Bubble Faux Fur Blanket that I got for a head-to-head comparison is made from almost the exact same material. It measures about 750g per sq metre (GSM) versus 850, which means it’s slightly less dense. However, you start to get a diminishing return at more than 500 GSM, in my opinion, so the Bedsure is just as soft and warm, while costing less than half, and measuring about 10in longer. And because both blankets are made from polyester, they share a lot of the same properties, including resistance to shedding and staining (all polyester repels stains).
There is one big differentiator: the Bedsure isn’t double-sided. However, that didn’t detract from my experience because I rarely want to touch both sides of a blanket.
For other options, search for “faux fur bubble blanket”, which is the generic name for what Lola Blankets are. Cozy Earth, CB2 and Quince all make variants for less, and the latter is even made of 100% recycled polyester. While I haven’t tested all of them, anything with a GSM of more than 500 and a good return policy should be a safe buy.
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What makes Lola blankets special?
The way I view it, Lola Blankets are similar to high-end fashion brands: you’re paying a premium for a name, though I don’t know many people who would flaunt a Lola blanket like a Birkin bag.
The company has exclusive collabs, like with Aviator Nation, and a dizzying array of colors, and touts its hand-dyeing process – though I wish the website showed more about this. It’s mostly just really good-looking people posing with blankets.
I also need to give props where they are due: I like the company’s charity work. Through Blankets for the Brave, they give blankets to women with breast cancer every month, and donate 10% of proceeds from their Rosewater blanket to the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
For the average person, looking for an ultra-soft blanket that’s really fluffy, you can get more for your money. And if you like Lola’s story but decide to opt for a less expensive blanket, you can also donate to its charitable causes directly – and even have more left in your pocket to give.
