What are Labubu dolls? Where to get the 2025's viral collectibles?
In recent weeks, a quirky new craze has taken over the fashion scene — and no, it's not a handbag or designer shoe. It's Labubu, the mischievous little creature that's become 2025's must-have accessory. From fashionistas to street-style stars, these viral dolls are popping up on bags, keychains, and even red carpets, with demand soaring and store lines stretching around the block.
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Labubu first originated in Hong Kong and stands apart from predecessors like Hello Kitty with its distinct elvish design. The character was born from a Nordic-inspired picture book by artist Kasing Lung, capturing imaginations with its whimsical, slightly mischievous look. In 2019, toy giant Pop Mart transformed Labubu into a collectible figure, and since then, each new collection has only fueled its soaring popularity, as reported by Today.com.
Labubu is part of a tribe called 'The Monsters,' and other members of the group are Zimomo, Mokoko, Tycoco, among others. What makes these dolls different from others is their unique features like wide eyes, a 'mischievous smile', nine very visible teeth, and an exterior furry body. With each collection, their facial expressions and outfits keep changing, making them different from the previous batch.
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While these dolls are adorable and have their charm, these collectibles are very hard to get, which adds to the excitement of the hunt. Moreover, these also come in a blind box, so if you want them in a particular colour, they are even harder to get. The Labubu dolls first came into the public eye via Lisa of Blackpink in April 2024.
For fans eager to get their hands on the latest Labubu and The Monsters releases, Pop Mart is the go-to destination. The brand drops new collections online every Thursday at 9 p.m., followed by in-store releases every Friday at 10 a.m., making it the first and most reliable source for scoring these sought-after collectibles.
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Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Part toy, part fashion, the arrival of the viral Labubu was a long time in the making
Labubu, the plush toy from China's Pop Mart is a social media darling, but the toothy little monsters are far from an overnight success. Having appeared a decade ago, Labubus may have finally cemented their place in the collectible toy market for years to come. The Labubu, by artist and illustrator Kasing Lung, first appeared with pointed ears and pointy teeth, in three picture books inspired by Nordic mythology in 2015. In 2019 Lung struck a deal with Pop Mart, a company that caters to toy connoisseurs and influencers, to sell Labubu figurines. But it wasn't until Pop Mart started selling Labubu plush toys on key rings in 2023 that the toothy monsters suddenly seemed to be everywhere, including in the hands of Rihanna, Kim Kardashian and NBA star Dillon Brooks. K-pop singer Lisa of Blackpink began posting images of hers for her more than 100 million followers on Instagram and on TikTok, where Labubu pandemonium has broken out. There are 1.4 million #Labubu TikTok posts and counting, videos of fans unboxing them, showing styles inspired by them, and of course, Labubu cosplay. Fans have latched on to Labubu's mashup of play and fashion, making them accessories on handbags, backpacks and belts, or hanging them from car mirrors. 'The character has evolved into a collectible and style symbol, resonating with fans who connect with its quirky aesthetic and unique backstory,' Emily Brough, Popmart's head of IP licensing in the Americas, said. Labubu has been a bonanza for Pop Mart. Its revenue more than doubled in 2024 to 13.04 billion yuan , thanks in part to its elvish monster. Revenue from Pop Mart's plush toys soared more than 1,200% in 2024, nearly 22% of its overall revenue, according to the company's annual report. Aside from their ability to pique the interest of toy aficionados and fashionistas, Labubu latched on to the blind box phenomenon, where the purchaser doesn't know exactly which version of the plush toy they'll get. And Pop Mart made sure there is a Labubu for everyone, regardless of income. Most are priced in a wide rage between $20 and $300, with certain collaborations or limited editions priced higher, according to Brough. Unlike many toys, Labubu devotees include a large number of adults. Buyers ages 18 and over drove a year-over-year increase of more than $800 million in the U.S. toy market in 2024, according to market research firm Circana. Adult shoppers, mostly female, bought the toys for themselves. In 2025's first quarter, toy sales for those ages 18 and over rose 12% from the prior-year period. At $1.8 billion, adults also accounted for the highest spending among all age groups in the quarter. Like many retailers, Pop Mart is actively monitoring negotiations between the U.S. and just about every one of its trading partners as prices may be impacted. The situation with China is at the forefront, with President Donald Trump saying on Friday that the country 'violated' an agreement with the United States on trade talks. Right now Pop Mart, whose products are manufactured across Asia, says that it is continuously scaling production and expanding distribution across its online shop, retail stores and blind box vending machines to meet increasing demand. Short supply has led to long lines at stores and at least one physical fight at a shopping center in the United Kingdom. Pop Mart said in an Instagram post late last month that it was temporarily suspending all in-store and blind box machine sales in the U.K. Peter Shipman, head of Europe, said in a Facebook post that the company is currently working on a new method to distribute toys to stores. Resellers have become problematic and many Labubu fans are still willing to pay exorbitant price markups. Kena Flynn was at The Grove shopping center in Los Angeles recently when she stumbled upon some Labubus being sold at a kiosk. Flynn said in a TikTok on Sunday that the prices were 'really bad,' but her boyfriend bought two anyway. 'At a certain point, you can't buy them,' Flynn said in her video. 'I just want a Labubu and I cannot buy one from Pop Mart, so here we are.' Looking to keep up with the overwhelming demand, Pop Mart says it's on track for 50 more retail locations in the U.S. by the end of the year. That'll give shoppers more chances to hunt for Labubus, as Pop Mart says it's planning multiple new Labubu releases tied to seasonal moments and holidays throughout the rest of the year.
Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Indian Express
The rise of Labubu dolls: All about quirky fashion toy Ananya Panday, BLACKPINK's Lisa are obsessed with
Across generations and cultures, dolls have been an intrinsic part of childhood, serving as companions, confidantes, and a means for children to express their imagination. With its ever-evolving wardrobe and inclusivity, Barbie has stood out as a cultural icon since its debut in 1959. Alongside Barbie, brands like American Girl, Bratz, and Polly Pocket also captivated the hearts of children and influenced the fashion industry. Fast forward to 2025, not just kids, but celebrities like Ananya Panday, BLACKPINK's Lisa, pop icon Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and others are obsessing over Labubu dolls – furry, snaggle-toothed gremlins. Inspired by elements of Nordic folklore, Labubu was created in 2015 by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung as a part of his imaginative series The Monster. The furry, elf-like creature with wide eyes, Labubu, made it to the toy industry in 2019 through a collaboration with Chinese toy brand Pop Mart. These collectibles are available in various forms, including figurines, keychains, and plushies. The holiday editions expand with themed merchandise such as gloves, scarves, and more. A post shared by POP MART (@popmart) According to Forbes, Labubu dolls typically cost around $20 to $30, and are sold in 'blind boxes,' where buyers only discover which design they've received after unboxing, triggering a trend on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. A post shared by Shreya Siddharth Arora (@ Speaking to Hypebeast, Lung, the creator of the doll, credited his time in the Netherlands as a major inspiration for Labubu. 'I liked to read storybooks and was influenced by ancient European elf legends,' he said. Reflecting on his childhood, Lung also said, 'There were no game consoles or computers, so I had to draw dolls with a pen, so I had the idea of painting fairy tales since I was a child.' Labubu's entry in mainstream pop culture fashion peaked last year, thanks to BLACKPINK's Lisa. The K-pop star was spotted with a Labubu figure dangling from her handbag. In an interview, she even described the toys as 'her secret obsession'. A post shared by LISA (@lalalalisa_m) More recently, Rihanna was spotted with a Labubu on her handbag, igniting buzz among fashion aficionados across the Internet. The trend also made its way to India, with celebrities like Ananya Panday carrying the Labubu at the airport. A post shared by Mamaraazzi (@mamaraazzi) Pop Mart's strategic partnerships with luxury brands such as Coach and Louis Vuitton, along with collaborations with renowned celebrities, have turned Labubu from a simple toy into a high-demand collectible art piece.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Time of India
What is a 'Labubu' and why has the $7,000 bug-eyed Chinese toy fuelled so much hype
Labubu , a bug-eyed, elf-like creature with jagged teeth and a wild tuft of hair, has gone from a niche picture book character to a global pop culture obsession. It's now the star of millions of TikTok videos, a favourite of A-list celebrities, and the centre of scuffles at toy shops from Los Angeles to Beijing. These toys aren't just cute. They're currency. What is Labubu, and why is everyone talking about it? Labubu is part of a broader cast known as The Monsters, a fictional group created by Dutch-born Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung . First introduced in his Nordic mythology-inspired 2015 book series The Monsters Trilogy, Labubu is described by Pop Mart — the Chinese retail giant that now sells the dolls — as an 'elvish creature' who is 'kind-hearted and always wants to help, but often accidentally achieves the opposite.' Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Solo si nació entre 1956-1996 Accede al programa con Amazon CFD TradeLG Haz clic aquí Undo The character stands out with its crocodile smile, oversized eyes and ambiguous gender. 'Labubu is a girl,' fans often clarify online. She isn't a standalone figure either. She's romantically linked to Tycoco, a vegetarian skeleton monster, and distinctly not involved with Zimomo, the actual leader of The Monsters who is often confused with her. How a collectible became a status symbol Labubu entered the vinyl toy scene in 2019 when Pop Mart licensed Lung's characters into 'blind box' collectibles — sealed packages that hide which toy design is inside. Selling for around $20–$30, these mystery boxes created an addictive treasure-hunt dynamic. Particularly sought after are the ultra-rare 'secret' editions, with just a 1-in-72 chance of being found. Live Events Fans have since flocked to social media to show off their unboxings. The hashtag #labubu has been used in more than 1 million posts worldwide, with over 32,000 of those in the US alone last week, according to TikTok analytics. Labubu's popularity exploded after BLACKPINK's Lisa was seen with one and spoke about her fondness for the doll in interviews and online posts. Rihanna and Dua Lipa soon followed, donning Labubu dolls like fashion statements. The toys even made a surprise appearance at Paris Fashion Week. Sold out in seconds, sold online for thousands With demand far outpacing supply, acquiring a Labubu has become a competitive sport. In many Pop Mart stores, shelves are often bare. At a Beijing mall, CNN found only display samples left in glass cabinets. 'It's almost impossible to get a Labubu via the official channels,' Pop Mart fan Evelyn Lin told CNN. Re-sellers have stepped in to capitalise. Limited-edition Labubus have been listed on eBay for up to $7,000. On StockX, where buyers can place bids, some toys — including a collaboration with Vans — are fetching over $3,000. According to Cover News, blind boxes from the Labubu 3.0 series, initially priced at 584 yuan (₹7,000), are now reselling for up to 2,000 yuan (₹24,000). Chaos in the queue, trouble at the border Labubu mania isn't all harmless fun. In the US, TikTok videos show people yelling and shoving in lines outside shops. One user called it the 'Labubu Hunger Games,' describing a chaotic morning at a California mall during a product release. Back in China — the home of Pop Mart and the dolls' main manufacturing base — people are resorting to unorthodox means. At least 462 Labubu toys were recently confiscated by Chinese customs officials, who found them being smuggled in for resale. In one case, suitcases packed with Labubus were shown off at a press event like a drug bust. 'Because they are not available on official platforms, if you're in a rush to get a gift for a friend, you just can't manage to get the popular ones in time,' said Beijing-based fan Kate Yang. 'You can only pay extra to buy from resale platforms.' She also revealed that her two most recent purchases from resellers were counterfeits. A familiar trend: Fandom, overconsumption and online clout Labubu isn't the first — or the last — viral product to inspire mass hysteria. The phenomenon mirrors the Stanley Cup craze, which similarly saw lines, fights, and thefts for reusable drinkware. Like Stanley fans, Labubu buyers are now facing criticism over perceived overconsumption. 'I genuinely don't believe that you people like that. You're only buying it because other people are buying it,' said one TikTok user in a video liked over 350,000 times. Another video, liked nearly 250,000 times, criticised bulk buying and reselling as part of a 'hype machine' culture rather than genuine appreciation. Despite the criticism, the numbers are hard to ignore. According to NBC News, The Monsters is now Pop Mart's best-selling franchise, with $419 million in sales last year. Across all products, Pop Mart's revenue in mainland China alone surged to $1.09 billion — a 34% jump from 2023. Its global gross profit rose by over 125%. Labubu may be a small toy. But the world's hunger for her is anything but. And whether you're in it for the art, the hype, or the hunt — Labubu has become a mirror of modern consumer culture . Small in size, enormous in impact.
