Decoding The Labubu Craze
Unless you have been living under a rock, you must have heard of the Labubu craze that has taken over the world. We deep dive into why a monster doll has become a collector's dream. (Image: News18 Creative)
3/7
First introduced in 2015, the Labubu doll is part of the Monsters series. Its distinguishing features include sharp teeth, wide eyes, pointy ears, and a mischievous grin. (Image: News18 Creative)
Initially aimed at art toy collectors, the Labubu doll has evolved into a fashionable and Instagram-friendly statement item. (Image: News18 Creative)
Social media optics and visually distinctive designs have made Labubu a global sensation. (Image: News18 Creative)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
4 hours ago
- NDTV
World's Most Expensive Labubu Doll Sold For 125 Times Its Original Price
A rare Labubu has been sold for a whopping Rs 9.15 lakh ($10,500), making it the most expensive Labubu doll to be sold. The grey-brownish doll, wearing Vans streetwear and a blue and orange hat reading 'The Monsters', was sold on the e-commerce platform eBay. According to a report in New York Post, the viral ugly-cute toy, riding the skateboard, came out in 2023 as one of Pop Mart's wildly popular blind boxes, as a collaboration between the shoe brand and Labubu. Interestingly, the doll was being sold at the retail price of Rs 7,400 ($85) at the time of its release. However, after the Labubu trend gained pace online, the same doll has now been purchased for Rs 9.15 lakh -- making its resale value 125 times more than the original price. Notably, Pop Mart sells Labubus for Rs 1,744 ($20) to Rs 3,488 ($40) in 'blind boxes' which means buyers do not know which one they will get until they open it. $Labubu limited edition collab with @Vans JB2wezZLdzWfnaCfHxLg193RS3Rh51ThiXxEDWQDpump — DegenJuice 🧃 (@DegenJuice_) June 9, 2025 What are Labubu dolls? Labubu dolls are plush toys and figurines based on a character from the book series The Monsters created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung. Inspired by Nordic fairy tales, the tiny elf creature's popularity surged when Lisa from the K-pop girl group Blackpink was seen with one. What followed was a frenzy of celebrities flaunting the doll, including Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and more. The popularity of the doll has made creator Pop Mart CEO, Wang Ning, the 10th richest man in China and the youngest member of the country's wealthiest, which includes TikTok founder Zhang Yiming, CEO of Xiaomi Lei Jun and founder of Nongfu Spring, Zhong Shansha. The popularity of the dolls resulted in controversy when they were linked to the ancient demon Pazuzu -- a Mesopotamian demon, with conspiracy theories claiming that the dolls carry "demonic energy". Pop Mart did not publicly address the claims but posted a mock "recall notice" on April Fools' Day, joking about supernatural activity surrounding the dolls.
Mint
21 hours ago
- Mint
'Most expensive' Labubu x Vans doll sells out for ₹9.15 lakh on eBay; 125 times more than original price
It seems like the viral Labubu trend is here to stay for a long time. E-commerce platform eBay last week witnessed a rare Labubu getting sold for a whopping ₹ 9.15 lakh, making the resale value nearly 125 times more than its actual price, the New York Post reported. The rare Labubu x Vans has now emerged as the most expensive of the viral toys sold on the platform. The Labubu doll is grey-brownish in color and wears Vans streetwear. In viral images, it can be seen donning a Vans sweatshirt, a blue and orange hat that has 'The Monsters' written in the front, as well as sneakers specially designed by the skater brand. Notably, "The Monsters" is a series of Labubu characters that the doll is a part of. First launched in 2023, this Labubu doll was initially a part of the popular blind boxes from Pop Mart. The series came out as part of the major collaboration between Labubu and Vans. Interestingly, the doll was being sold at the retail price of ₹ 7,400 at the time of its release. With the Labubu trend gaining significant attention around the world, it has now been purchased for ₹ 9.15 lakh, making its resale value 125 times more than the original price. Labubu was initially created by cartoonist Kasing Lung in 2015, featuring in his The Monsters book series. This came to his mind after getting inspired by Nordic fairytales when he moved to the Netherlands from Hong Kong at the age of seven, The Guardian reported. In 2019, Lung joined hands with Pop Mart, with this collaboration going on to bring the unique creatures to life. On secondary markets, Labubu dolls have been among the most searched items, with experts suggesting that these have helped in making legitimate investments, especially due to the limited supply model of Pop Mart, according to Forbes. Lori Verderame, a collectible appraiser who runs her own show on the History Channel, said the "unique look and general appeal" of the Labubu dolls will go on to make them a "strong market collectible for years to come'. These dolls are being offered in various collections and usually come out in "blind boxes". Customers get to see the content only when they open it. Labubu, which were made earlier, are the ones holding great value in the market, New York Post quoted Alex Fung, pop culture consignment director at Goldin Auctions, as saying. Customers usually get these dolls for around ₹ 1,744 to ₹ 3,488. Recently, a pink 'secret' edition of Labubu, which initially came out early last year, was sold for ₹ 1.74 lakh on eBay. According to Forbes, the net worth of Pop Mart CEO Wang Ning has jumped from $2 billion in 2024 to $22 billion. Fans can purchase them from the official website of Pop Mart and other retailers.
Mint
a day ago
- Mint
Woman offers ₹4,000 reward for lost Labubu doll: ‘Took her out drinking and…'
A woman in San Francisco has gone viral after sharing a heartfelt — and slightly humorous — plea for the return of her lost Labubu doll, which she misplaced during a night of heavy drinking. The woman, who turned to Reddit for help, shared a poster featuring photos of the pink doll, known for its quirky appearance, as it explored the city and snacked on popcorn chicken with her. 'I took her out for a night of drinking and now I regret getting too lit,' she admitted in the Reddit post, referring to the toy affectionately as 'Labubu'. She offered a $50 ( ₹ 4,175) reward for anyone who might return the missing doll, and asked those with information to get in touch. 'I know it's a long shot but this is part of my grieving process,' she added, later joking in the thread that Labubus were 'for the delulu'. The post drew a mix of reactions. While many Reddit users expressed sympathy and support, a few took the opportunity to poke fun. 'I know it's hard but just buy another one,' one commenter suggested. Another joked, 'It's probably in Oakland by now being sold for parts.' Screengrab from the viral post. Labubu dolls, known for their odd-yet-cute charm, have gained such popularity online that some are now being resold for over 100 times their original price. Fortunately, the story had a happy ending. A kind-hearted fellow collector stepped in and gave the woman a replacement – a 'Lychee Berry' Labubu, just like the one she lost. Though not the exact same doll, it brought her comfort.
