Latest news with #CabbagePatch
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Thousands of dollars worth of Labubus stolen from California store
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox About S$5,100 worth of stolen goods have been returned to the owners, although it is not immediately clear how they were recovered. Thieves broke into a California store and stole thousands of dollars worth of Labubus on Aug 6 – the trendy Chinese plushies and this generation's version of Cabbage Patch dolls – according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office. Footage released on Instagram by the store, Onestopsaless, shows a group of thieves quickly swiping boxes and dolls off shelves. They then enter the back of the store and grab armfuls of merchandise. Labubus are fuzzy Nordic elves – all female – who sometimes come with outfits. They are made exclusively by Pop Mart, a Chinese company. The toys are so popular that people line up for hours at stores for the chance to buy one. Shoppers often do not know which Labubu they are getting because some of them come in a blind box, meaning their identity is unknown until the box is opened. There are more than 300 versions of the toys, with each doll costing roughly US$30 (S$38.50) , though some limited-edition versions fetch more. The website for Onestopsaless shows Labubus sell for as much as $500. The dolls have spawned communities – in real life and online – where fans share tips about how to dress the figures. The demand has also driven a market for fakes , called Lafufus . Celebrities, including Rihanna and Cher, have sported them on their handbags. The dolls, which also come in keychains, have been featured hanging off designer bags, such as a Hermes Birkin. Ms Joanna Avendano and Mr Leonardo Rodriguez opened Onestopsaless, which sells trending collectibles and accessories, such as Powerpuff Girls and Hello Kitty merchandise, a few months ago, Ms Avendano said. The store also stocks products from Miniso, a Chinese retailer that sells licensed collections from brands such as Disney and Pokemon, toys, plushies and other products. The thieves drove a stolen Toyota Tacoma to the store on Glendora Avenue in La Puente, California, around 1.30am local time , according to a news release from the sheriff's office. When police first responded, Ms Avendano said she was unable to go into the store and initially estimated the loss to be about US $7,000. Later, after she managed to take an inventory, she revised that estimate to US $25,000. A detective for the sheriff's office confirmed she provided a list. Investigators on Aug 7 returned about US $4,000 worth of the stolen goods, which included some Labubus and other merchandise, Ms Avendano said. It was not immediately clear how the stolen goods were recovered. NYTIMES
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Leave Labubu lovers alone
This is Sisi, one of my friend's six Labubus. Photo by Renée Graham. A casual scroll through social media, especially TikTok and Instagram, yields countless videos of Labubu unboxings (they come in blind boxes, so buyers don't know which one they're getting), massive collections on display, and lots of people freaking out when they score the doll they really wanted. In April, Advertisement Conversely, there's no shortage of videos — ranging from Advertisement Here's a bit of advice — if you don't want a Labubu, don't buy a Labubu. I had no idea what they were until a friend — who has six Labubus — explained the phenomenon to me. Did this added information make me want to run out and buy one? No. But I understand why people yearning for comfort and distraction are finding it in a toy. To state the obvious, we are living in unnerving, uncertain times. It feels like what we're enduring — from terrifying Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids separating families and upending communities to economic worries caused by a volatile president's mercurial tariffs to the very real sense that we're witnessing the end of democracy in America — has become a toxic recipe for sleepless nights and incessant agita. Some may turn to overeating or alcohol or other substances to anesthetize themselves. The point is people need even fleeting solace and escape. And by comparison, buying and cuddling a Labubu or 10 seems pretty harmless. Frankly, I don't see much of a difference between collecting Labubus, playing pickleball, or being a model train enthusiast. (Or, in my case, being a Lego fan.) It's not about self-infantilizing and retreating into childhood. It's about a simple thing that hurts no one and makes someone feel better. Over a clip of singer Justin Bieber saying to someone that, 'It's not clocking to you that I'm standing on business,' an Instagram user named Advertisement Much of the Labubu hate may stem from that annoying need some people have to deride what they don't understand as if the only valid pursuits are those that satisfy their desires alone. Social media, where there's an infernal contest to post the most outrageous comment, certainly exacerbates this just as much as it helped launch Labubu from a niche toy into a billion-dollar business after I also think it infuriates some that Labubu has been embraced across gender lines. That's a long way from the rigidly gendered toys that my generation grew up with and is probably threatening to anyone deeply invested in maintaining the tyranny of binary restrictions and the most corrosive representations of masculinity. (There's a special flavor of disgust reserved for men who are into Labubus.) That people carry them openly also makes it clear that no one needs to be ashamed of their simple joys. If past toy trends are any indication, Labubus may eventually go the way of Cabbage Patch dolls and Beanie Babies. Perhaps they'll find their way into basements or attics where a rediscovery years later will trigger memories of what helped the collector through tough times. Let the Labubu lovers savor their moment. As Frank Sinatra once said, 'Basically, I'm for anything that gets you through the night — be it prayer, tranquilizers, or a bottle of Jack Daniels.' Or, a creepy-cute doll with a funny name. This is an excerpt from , a Globe Opinion newsletter from columnist Renée Graham. . Advertisement Renée Graham is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at
Time Out
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Yes, Labubu raves are taking over Brooklyn's nightlife scene
Every generation gets the toy craze it deserves, and no toy craze is any weirder than the last. From Pet Rocks to Cabbage Patch dolls to Troll Dolls and Tamagotchis, our collective past is littered with 'I gotta have it or I'll die!' status symbols. And Labubus have definitely taken their place among them. Not only have the plush toys with unsettling wide grins revealing serrated knife-like teeth become an instant grid-worthy addition to Instagram accounts, but they're now beginning to revitalize nightlife. At least at the Brooklyn Monarch in Williamsburg, where raves featuring Labubus as the headliners attract up to 800 people. Labubus have become unavoidable, both on social media and on the subways, where the weirdly adorable little creatures with big eyes, sharp teeth, and full-on gremlin energy seem to be everywhere, most often dangling from purses, keychains, and waistbands. Created by artist Kasing Lung, Labubus are part of the Pop Mart universe, which means mystery boxes, limited editions, and serious collector hype. People line up or endlessly refresh websites, hoping to score a rare one. (How big have Labubus become? A human-sized Labubu recently sold for more than $170,000.) For collectors, the toy is almost secondary to the thrill of the unboxing, the trade culture, and the bragging rights of scoring a super rare variant. At these late-night parties in East Williamsburg (often running from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.), Labubu revelers pack the dance floor for Labubu mystery unboxing giveaways, high-energy DJ sets, and performances by K-pop dance crews. The Labubu raves were founded by Jacketta Collins, who claims to have lost count of how many Labubus she owns. The next event will be held on August 8 at Monarch, featuring an hour-long open bar starting at the top of the event at 11 p.m.; unlike previous events for 18+ crowds, this edition will be for 21+ guests. Every ticket purchased automatically enrolls you in a raffle for an authentic Labubu, which also means automatic bragging rights and at least a casual pic (or three) on Instagram.
West Australian
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Ben Harvey: A cuddly WA invention will work wonders for worried kids
I never had a teddy bear as a child. Does that make me a survivor? I had a pretty impressive stuffed Snoopy but he was quite angular and not very soft, so ill-suited to snuggling. My brother Oliver had a stuffed monkey, which he imaginatively called Monkey. As was the style with toys and cartoons back in the day, monkey had a shirt but no pants. Our sister had several teddies, which Oliver and I considered (and still consider, if we're being honest) proof she was (and is) loved more than us. Georgina also had an array of Cabbage Patch dolls, which we took great delight in hanging from the ceiling fan in her bedroom. Can you imagine what would happen if a kid did that today? The Department of Child Protection would be onto the parents in a flash as part of a wide-ranging investigation into a hate crime. As you can see from the picture below, Monkey and Snoopy are still around. Snoop (that's his name, and yes I know that's only marginally more imaginative than Monkey) is still in mint condition because he lived at the foot of the bed. Monkey is a bit worse for wear because he spent most of his life wedged under Oliver's armpit. His neck was clearly a weak point because after a few years the stuffing started leaking, like a fluff-filled carotid artery had ruptured. We stitched him back together but then he looked like Frankenstein, hence the bandage. I don't know where the Cabbage Patch dolls ended up. They're probably stowed somewhere at Mum's house next to My Pretty Ponies, Alf dolls and other Hasbro relics from the 1980s. If someone had seen fit to give me a teddy in the 1970s when I was growing up (seriously, after re-reading that last sentence I really think I'm allowed to call myself a survivor*) then it would no doubt have been a pretty stock-standard bear-shaped, fabric-wrapped ball of stuffing. We had low expectations of a teddy bear back then so if it didn't poke my eye out like Snoopy's tail did then I would have been happy. Fast-forward a half a century or so and toy animals are very different beasts. They move, make noises and physically interact with their owners. Some are Bluetooth-enabled to ensure a constant life-like presence. They're furry companions that are almost like real animals. We had those kinds of things when I was young. We called them 'pets'. This could be repressed rage from my bear-deprived childhood speaking but I think teddy bears that try to be human are a complete waste of money which a parent could have used more wisely at Dan Murphy's. The bear in the picture is not a waste of money because it's not just a teddy; it's a cleverly disguised psychological tool. Louise Mansell invented Tedology (love that name!) after realising the humble teddy could be a delivery mechanism for mini psychology sessions when kids are a bit overwhelmed by life. In creating Tedology, Louise brought to bear (sorry) 15 years of experience as a clinical psychologist. The toy's functionality extends from the relatively simple (it's weighted differently, its crinkly ears make a pleasing sound when they are squeezed, and different-textured paws invite a child to soothe themselves by rubbing them) to advanced (each squeeze activates one of 10 guided audio activities designed to help a kid manage their feelings). The latest prototype (it's not on sale just yet) was unveiled in Perth on Friday at an event called Future by Design. Future by Design was created by one-time chief information officer for the WA Government, Marion Burchell, who wanted to 'empower individuals, communities, and organisations to actively shape the future through knowledge, innovation, and intentional collaboration'. I have no idea what any of that means but it sounds very exciting and I quite like the idea of designing the future instead of just passively waiting for it to happen. And if a fluffy, intelligent teddy bear is in that future alongside a garrotted monkey, a lynched Cabbage Patch Doll and uncomfortably rigid Snoopy, then all the better. *Plus I was ginger — surely that qualifies me for some kind of government compensation package?
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Joe wants to win football. Shedeur wants to dance': Shedeur Sanders shows Joe Flacco a dance move and netizens smell something fishy
(Image via Getty: Joe Flacco with Shedeur Sanders) There are two kinds of players in the Cleveland Browns. One wants to win football. While the other wants to dance. 40-year-old veteran quarterback for the Browns, Joe Flacco, wants to concentrate on the OTAs, but a 23-year-old rookie quarterback wants to keep his nerves cool by showing off some dance moves! For Joe Flacco, when it's time for business, it's time for business, no playing, fooling, or dancing around then. But for the newest rookie in Cleveland, with loads and loads of pressure over his head - no team selecting him in the 2025 NFL draft, carrying the heavy weight of his father Deion Sanders' heritage, and leaving some time off the 'legendary posts' phase - dance is everything! Especially when it's in the OTAs. One fan even wrote, "I dance everywhere - grocery store, doing yard work, housework, taking a walk. I didn't get this way until I became confident in myself, and could care less about what others thought - as long as I ain't hurting nobody. It's like that when you don't need others to define you." Despite talks of competition among quarterbacks in the Cleveland Browns, Shedeur Sanders likes to keep it cool with his dance moves 'You ever hit that dance?' asked a relaxed QB of Browns, Shedeur Sanders. 'What's that?' quizzed a curious QB of Browns, Joe Flacco. Shedeur Sanders shows a dance move with clenched fists and folded elbows crisscrossing and the hips moving along rhythmically - a leaner version of floss dance and a perfect version of swaying-to-the-music dance! Also, it could be a slower version of the Cabbage Patch dance! Anyway, Joe Flacco chuckled and replied, ' Definitely not.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo 'What!' reacted a surprised QB of the Browns, Sanders. 'I don't know if I've ever hit a public dance move in my life!' exclaimed a determined QB of the Browns, Flacco! Fans say QB Shedeur Sanders is trying to distract a determined Cleveland Browns QB Joe Flacco from practicing in the OTAs A fan called Shedeur Sanders' dancing before Joe Flacco, '😆 🤣 Homeboy Sanders just trying to distract Flacco, so he can at least one 1st team rep before the season starts.' Another found 'Shedeur too funny.' One fan declared, 'Browns should settle the QB competition with a dance off 😏.' Another fan differentiated between the two quarterbacks, 'Joe is a superbowl winning qb that only cares about playing. Shedeur wants to be a celebrity.' A fan called it a family moment, 'It's like the fun uncle and his favorite nephew.' Another fan complimented Shedeur Sanders by saying, 'Some people handle things that others think are stressful differently than others. They had fun fun in Colorado. Their comradery was their success.' One fan went on to say, '12 playing mind games, distracting Joe, to not get cut.' Another fan said, 'One is a serious QB and one isn't.' Why was a fan so serious to comment, 'Not an appropriate question from a rookie backup qb. Can definitely see why no one wanted to draft him.' Another fan seemed serious, too, 'Flacco has no time for that nonsense. He's there to play football.' A fan wrote, 'Flacco has such Tired Dad Energy, it's perfect for Cleveland.' Another commented, 'Either Sanders is going to be a failed experiment like Johnny Manziel or will be the greatest QB ever. No in between.' Also Read: Lamar Jackson in extension talks with the Baltimore Ravens for maybe two, three, four, or five years | NFL News - Times of India
