What are the viral Labubu dolls and why they've just been pulled from UK stores
Sometimes, the most unexpected things become viral. In recent months, a peculiar doll with oversized eyes, a mischievous smile, and a furry exterior has quietly taken over the hearts of people, particularly in fashion and toy worlds.
Labubu, the quirky monster doll that became a viral sensation and celebrity favourite in a very short time is making news for its abrupt disappearance from UK stores. Needless to say this has left fans both heartbroken and furious. While a return has been promised, fans remain seething over the suddenness of it all.
Hong Kong-born and Netherlands-raised artist Kasing Lung is credited with creating this madly popular doll inspired by Nordic mythology along with other Monsters characters for a series of picture books in 2015.
How it entered the fashion world and became a charming accessory is another story. Labubu dolls were first spotted dangling from the designer bags of A-listers like Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and BLACKPINK's Lisa.
Before anyone knew, it fueled a collectible craze. According to Google Trends, searches for 'Labubu doll' skyrocketed, and peaked at over 2.1 million queries in a single month.
Why Labubu dolls were pulled from the store
Labubu fans and shoppers across the UK were taken aback when the viral doll went missing from all 16 outlets of Pop Mart, the toy brand behind Labubu, in May.
The decision came after a series of disturbing scenes unfolded at store locations, with reports of chaotic crowds, overnight queues, and even fights breaking out among eager buyers. In one particularly troubling incident at Pop Mart's Stratford store in London, fan Victoria Calvert described an atmosphere that quickly spiraled into aggression: 'People were shouting, basically saying there were no more Labubus left.
I even witnessed a fight between a worker and a customer," a customer told BBC.
The decision to temporarily withdraw the dolls until June is meant to 'prevent any potential safety issues.' But fans aren't convinced. Social media users have expressed their dismay over the sudden unavailability of the product with some blaming the brand's drip-feed stock tactics and others targeting resellers who've driven prices sky-high.
Origins of Labubu
Kasing Lung, a Hong Kong-born illustrator created Labubu, part of a fictional universe called 'The Monsters', which includes friends like Zimomo, Mokoko, and Tycoco. Each character features unique traits, but Labubu with her nine visible teeth and infectious grin, quickly captured people's fancy.
In 2019, Pop Mart teamed up with Lung to launch the first line of collectible Labubu toys. Sold in 'blind boxes' - sealed packaging where buyers don't know which design they'll get, the toys added an element of surprise that only intensified their appeal. Every new collection features fresh themes, outfits, and accessories. The most recent drop, 'Big Into Energy,' launched around April end, showcases ombré-colored fur and matching painted teeth, each toy symbolizing different emotional energies.
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