IKEA BLÅHAJ soft toy shark

The BLÅHAJ is a world-famous plush shark designed and sold by IKEA. Originally launched in the late 2000s (initially under the name 'Klappar Haj'), it has grown from a simple children's toy into a significant internet phenomenon and a beloved icon for collectors and online communities.

The product is conceptualized and designed in Sweden as part of IKEA's extensive range of soft furnishings and toys. While the design is Swedish, manufacturing is outsourced to global textile hubs, most notably in Vietnam and Indonesia, where specialized factories handle the mass production of polyester-filled soft toys.

IKEA remains the sole designer, distributor, and ultimate owner of the brand. The company operates through a complex corporate structure where Inter IKEA Systems B.V. (based in the Netherlands) owns the brand intellectual property, while the brand itself is rooted in Swedish heritage and founded by the Ingvar Kamprad family.