KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 — Creativity is the name of the game for online vape sellers who now offer “skins” label designs that mimic common and popular household brands, to cover electronic smoking devices so their users can carry them discreetly in broad daylight. These skins make vapes look like ordinary every-day items like marker pens, highlighters, glue sticks, and even candy bars and are openly sold on online e-commerce platforms like Shopee and Lazada. Stationery brands appear to be the most popular.
Stabilo, a German company recognised for its bright highlighters, seems to be the top choice with its signature fluorescent pink, orange, and yellow skins wrapped around vapes, which the smoking devices look just like an ordinary pen. Another popular German brand is UHU, with its signature yellow label covering similarly-shaped vapes, makes them look like nothing more than the “All Purpose Adhesive” glue sticks. Similarly, Artline, a trusted brand for permanent markers, is also being used in this fashion.
The Artline 100 series, known for its bold, large-tip markers, is now being imitated to cover vape devices, making them look like regular office supplies. In a 2023 TikTok video, a user demonstrates how to apply a UHU Glue sticker label to an electronic smoking device, further showcasing the growing popularity of these camouflaged vapes. These “skins” are crafted from high-quality materials like polypropylene, which sellers claim are waterproof, scratch-resistant.