Labubu fans dote over ugly-cute doll trending at Comic-Con
The wide-eyed and grinning doll was created in 2015 by Hong Kong artist and illustrator Kasing Lung. In 2019, Lung allowed them to be sold by Pop Mart, a Chinese toy company that sells collectible figurines, often in 'blind boxes'.
'Blind boxes' are sealed boxes containing a surprise item that is usually part of a themed collection.
Naomi Galban from San Diego waited in line on Sunday at the Pop Mart booth in the San Diego Convention Center for a chance to get her first Labubu.
'Every time I go to a Pop Mart store, they're sold out,' the 24-year-old said. She hoped to buy one for her little sister.
Emily Brough, Pop Mart's Head of IP Licensing, spoke to Reuters on Thursday about Labubu fans at Comic-Con.
'We love to see how fans are personalising it [Labubu] for themselves,' Brough said next to the Pop Mart booth.
While Brough noted that there were many people with a Labubu strapped to their bags and backpacks at Comic-Con, the doll's popularity did not happen overnight. Labubus had a huge boost in 2019 after Pop Mart began selling them, and in 2024, when Blackpink's Lisa, who is Thai, created a buying frenzy in Thailand after she promoted Labubu on social media.
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