Russians spending millions on Labubus
Russians have spent more than 1.5 billion rubles ($17.6 million) on Labubu toys this year, according to data from e-commerce platform Wildberries & Russ, cited by TASS.
Created by Hong Kong designer Kasing Lung for his book 'The Monsters', the small elf-like character with sharp teeth became a global collectible sensation after Chinese company Pop Mart launched it in blind box format in 2019. Its popularity surged in 2024 when Thai-born K-pop star Lisa shared photos of the dolls on Instagram, triggering a wave of celebrity endorsements.
Singer Rihanna was later seen with one clipped to her Louis Vuitton bag, Kim Kardashian displayed a collection of ten figures, and former England football captain David Beckham posted an image of a Labubu gifted by his daughter, making the toy an international trend.
Although Labubu-themed products appeared on Wildberries in July 2024, the company said sales remained negligible until May this year, when demand jumped by 4,700% compared to April, reaching tens of millions of rubles.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

TimesLIVE
4 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Labubu fans dote over ugly-cute doll trending at Comic-Con
San Diego Comic-Con is the latest location where the ugly-cute dolls named Labubu have been trending, with fans carrying the plushies globally popularised by celebrities Rihanna, Lizzo, Dua Lipa and Lisa from the K-pop group Blackpink. 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.


The South African
4 days ago
- The South African
South African chef nominated for 'Best Chef' at British Restaurant Awards
Capetonian chef Ash Valenzuela‑Heeger's star continues to rise with her latest nomination, which honours top chefs across the United Kingdom. Valenzuela‑Heeger is the founder of Riverine Rabbit, a restaurant that originally began as a pop-up in Cape Town before finding a permanent home in Birmingham during the pandemic. Her food reflects a bold and personal blend of South African heritage and British seasonal produce, writes the Birmingham Wire . Valenzuela‑Heeger is a Silwood-trained chef who cut her teeth under Luke Dale Roberts at top Cape Town kitchens La Colombe and The Test Kitchen. She gained further international experience at renowned UK restaurants, including The Ledbury in Notting Hill, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal and Carters of Moseley. She then returned to Cape Town to start her own ventures – first ASH Restaurant in 2016, and later Riverine Rabbit in 2018. According to British Restaurant Awards judges, the Eastern Cape-born chef weaves South African culinary heritage into her menu. Her Birmingham-based Riverine Rabbit has since become a celebrated name in the city's food scene. Among its offerings are spice-infused small plates, crab toast, and honey-cured beef, using seasonal British ingredients. This distinctive SA-UK mix earned Riverine Rabbit a Michelin Bib Gourmand earlier this year, while Valenzuela‑Heeger was the recipient of the Michelin Guide's Young Chef Award for 2025. 'I'm not surprised that Ash has been awarded,' said Eat Out Culinary Director Abigail Donnelly after Valenzuela‑Heeger's Michelin Award. 'I've followed her for many years – particularly when she was at The Test Kitchen. She's just a powerhouse.' 'Her flavours are unique – powerful and packed full of flavour.' Valenzuela‑Heeger also starred on the Netflix series The Final Table – a reality cooking show that featured 24 recognised chefs from around the world. The British Restaurant Awards shortlist will be officially revealed on 10 September. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in London later this year. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

IOL News
4 days ago
- IOL News
Russians spending millions on Labubus
Russians have spent more than 1.5 billion rubles ($17.6 million) on Labubu toys this year, according to data from e-commerce platform Wildberries & Russ Russians have spent more than 1.5 billion rubles ($17.6 million) on Labubu toys this year, according to data from e-commerce platform Wildberries & Russ, cited by TASS. Created by Hong Kong designer Kasing Lung for his book 'The Monsters', the small elf-like character with sharp teeth became a global collectible sensation after Chinese company Pop Mart launched it in blind box format in 2019. Its popularity surged in 2024 when Thai-born K-pop star Lisa shared photos of the dolls on Instagram, triggering a wave of celebrity endorsements. Singer Rihanna was later seen with one clipped to her Louis Vuitton bag, Kim Kardashian displayed a collection of ten figures, and former England football captain David Beckham posted an image of a Labubu gifted by his daughter, making the toy an international trend. Although Labubu-themed products appeared on Wildberries in July 2024, the company said sales remained negligible until May this year, when demand jumped by 4,700% compared to April, reaching tens of millions of rubles.