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Tatler Asia
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
From Barbie to Labubu: a history of iconic collectable dolls that shaped generations
2. Raggedy Ann Above Raggedy Ann (Photo: Prisencolinensinainciusol / Wikimedia Commons) Created by Johnny Gruelle, Raggedy Ann was less about fashion and more about values. Barbie wasn't the first feminist doll icon, after all. Raggedy Ann promoted kindness, loyalty and resilience. She debuted in 1915 and came with her own series of wholesome, sometimes gently preachy books. Her popularity endured for nearly a century thanks to her unthreatening design and 'let's talk about our feelings' energy. While they don't command toy shelves anymore, Raggedy Ann's impact is still hand-stitched into the fabric of American nostalgia. 3. Barbie (1959) Above Barbie is probably the most famous of all iconic collectable dolls. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) Barbie has been a teenage fashion model, a surgeon, an astronaut and President. She's worn plastic heels and cultural expectations in equal measure. Since 1959, she's embodied both empowerment and controversy—a dream girl and a feminist battlefield in six-inch platforms. She's still selling faster than you can say 'Dreamhouse', thanks to that Greta Gerwig film. 4. Trolls (1959) Above Trolls (Photo: Meg Jenson / Unsplash) Originally carved by a Danish woodcutter as a lucky charm, Troll dolls exploded into global fame in the 1960s and again in the '90s. They had a kind of kitschy renaissance with neon hair and jewel belly buttons. Equal parts adorable and creepy, these stubby-limbed creatures captured hearts with their chaotic charm and 'so-ugly-it's-cute' energy. Today, they're back with a glitter-soaked vengeance thanks to DreamWorks' musical franchise, but vintage collectors still seek the classic, beady-eyed originals with hair like a windstorm in Ibiza. 5. Blythe Dolls (1972) Above Blythe Dolls (Photo: Kathy B / Wikimedia Commons) Launched in 1972 and relaunched in the 2000s, Blythe dolls were initially considered too weird. They have oversized heads, colour-changing eyes and an eerie stare, but the art and fashion world fell hard for these iconic collectable dolls. These days, they're styled like miniature Vogue editorials and sold for thousands. Think of them as the Anna Wintour of dolls—intimidating but iconic. 6. Cabbage Patch Kids (1982) Before there were TikTok drops and sneaker raffles, there were toy store stampedes for Cabbage Patch Kids. Debuting in the early 1980s with their soft cloth bodies, pudgy faces and adoption certificates, these iconic collectable dolls ignited an unmatched consumer craze. Every child wanted their own oddly adorable baby with a unique name and birth story. Part wholesome, part headline-making mania, Cabbage Patch Kids weren't just a toy; they were a social phenomenon. 7. American Girl Dolls (1986) These 18-inch iconic collectable dolls brought context to the playroom. With detailed historical backstories and accessory sets that cost more than your rent, American Girl Dolls taught kids about abolition, immigration, war and suffrage, one embroidered bonnet at a time. They're now as beloved by grown women on eBay as they once were by nine-year-olds in prairie dresses. 8. Bratz (2001) Bratz dolls burst onto the scene in the early 2000s like a glitter bomb with attitude—huge heads, heavy makeup and a wardrobe straight off a Y2K music video. They were the antithesis of Barbie: unapologetically edgy, ethnically diverse and dressed for the club at age 13. Bratz threw traditional beauty out the window and replaced it with street style and smudged eyeliner. Though these iconic collectable dolls were accused of being 'bad influences', they're now embraced by fashion kids and drag queens alike. 9. Sonny Angel (2005) If Kewpie had a trendy Gen Z nibling, it'd be Sonny Angel. These tiny, wide-eyed baby boys wear nothing but elaborate headgear: strawberries, hamburgers, snowmen—you name it. Designed in Japan by Toru Soeya, they were made to 'bring healing' and quickly became surprise must-haves. Sonny Angels are now a collectable phenomenon and a favourite among aesthetic girlies who like their serotonin in miniature form. 10. Monster High (2010) If Bratz were the rebel teens of the doll world, Monster High was their gothic, undead cousin who listened to My Chemical Romance and drank iced lattes in a haunted cafeteria. Launched in 2010, Monster High reimagined the children of classic monsters—Draculaura, Frankie Stein and Clawdeen Wolf—as stylish, self-aware high schoolers navigating teen life with fangs, bolts and killer heels. Every doll had a backstory, a punny name and a look that was equal parts horror movie and haute couture. It was the first mainstream doll line to centre freakiness as fabulousness—and kids ate it up. 11. Noodoll (2009) Born in London with Taiwanese roots, Noodolls are kawaii-style plushies with names like Ricecarrot and Ricemonster. They're the therapy plushies of the design world. Now regaining momentum after the Labubu brouhaha, Noodolls are a soft power staple for millennials who grew up and now need something soft to cry into at their WFH desk. 12. Labubu (2015) Part goblin, part woodland spirit, Labubu was created by Hong Kong-based artist Kasing Lung and produced by POP MART. With snaggle teeth, devilish eyes and twisted whimsy, Labubu dolls look like they've crawled out of a haunted Lisa Frank sketchbook, and Gen Z is obsessed. Ultra-coveted and often sold out, these iconic collectable dolls have become part of the new wave of 'designer toys' that blur the line between doll and fine art. See more: The rise of Labubu: Why are people obsessed with this plush toy accessory?
Perth Now
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Labubu mania: The viral plushie that is sweeping the nation
Blink and you'll miss the chance to buy them, that's just how popular the viral plushy trends have become and at the height of this is the Labubu doll. A little monster plush toy has become the go-to accessory for designer handbags, coming in all different styles the toys have taken over Australia with the allure of the plush coming in mystery boxes. The toy craze is in full force across the country, leaving many Australian's counting down the newest release for the monster plushie's. But where have they come from? The Hong Kong plush toy has been around since 2015, but it's only in the past year after a member of Korean band Blackpink, Lisa, was spotted with it as both a toy and bag accessory. Blackpink member Lisa with a Labubu in 2024. Credit: Lisa / Instagram They are dropped in batch releases with a variety of different quirky designs, dropping in mystery boxes so the excitement of which one a buyer will receive can heighten the elation or increase the heartbreak when they unbox the toys. Perth customers have to go through Pop&Fun, a distributor for the primary retailer the product PopMart, with each blind box costing $32 each and are limited to one per person. With the high demand and limited supply of the toys, scalpers have been cashing in on the hype and reselling the toy with insane markups. The small plush toys are being resold online from upwards of $100 each, with some of the rarer items on the market for thousands. PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 08: A guest wears a burgundy bordeaux woven Bottega Veneta Andiamo leather bag, light blue Labubu bag charm, cream Labubu bag charm, outside Elie Saab, during the Paris Fashion week Women's Fall/Winter 2025-2026 on March 8, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by) Credit: Edward Berthelot / Getty Images For those out of the loop or left perplexed about the trend, think back to Cabbage Patch Kids or Beanie Babies with the hype of social media ballooning the demand. Labubu's join the likes of Sonny Angel's, Smiski's and Pokemon Cards which saw a skyrocket in value and popularity thanks to online hype. The craze has taken social media by storm, with influencer's posting videos of their unboxing's online and garnering hundreds of thousands of views. The Labubu toys have become a hot commodity. Credit: Instagram It's not just Australia that's been seeing red at the sight of the toys, with shops in the UK recently pausing all sales of the plushie's due to allegations of violence from people lining up to buy the collectables.
What's On
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
You can now get Labubus in Dubai on noon Minutes in just 15 minutes
Labubus for everyone… You read that right. Labubus are dropping on noon Minutes, and you can now get the viral doll delivered to your doorstep in just 15 minutes. It sounds too good to be true, but have faith in us – it is too good and it is indeed, true. The doll will be available to order on the app in limited quantities, so while you don't have to queue up in the mall just to see empty shelves, you still need to be there fresh and early to get yourself one of the blind boxes before they sell out. The great thing is that noon will be restocking on the daily, so there is hope for us all. The first drop will be launched today, at 1pm, and will be the 'Have a Seat' collection, followed soon after by 'Macarons' and 'Big Into Energy'. Priced at Dhs299, you get the full Labubu experience, with the mystery of which one you're going to get, but the express version. No waiting, just vibes (and clout, if you want it). Perhaps no trend has trend-ed like this in recent times – everyone and their moms are talking about the Labubus and social media is rife with every category of content starring these dolls, and the comically long lines outside toy stores featuring full grown women ( without children in tow) are quite telling of just how strong this cultural phenomenon is. We've seen the manic, frenzy-fuelled eras of the Cabbage Patch Kids and the Tamagotchis. This time around, the adults are the ones buying into the fad – a sign of the times, if you will. Thanks to this, Labubus are now enjoying collectibles status, being resold on collectibles websites and by third parties for multiple times the price – if that isn't hype, we don't know what is. Available on noon Minutes, limited quantities, restocked daily, Dhs299, @noon_uae Images: Supplied > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
What's On
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
So, what's the big deal with the Labubus?
Everyone and their moms are talking about the Labubus… And we're not exactly sure how we got here. Social media is rife with every category of content starring these dolls, and the comically long lines outside toy stores featuring full grown women ( without children in tow) are quite telling of just how strong this wave is. Popularised by our fellow Gen Z folks, the Labubu is not your typical doll. It looks like a mildly disturbing crossover between a bunny and some kind 0f a sharp-toothed monster, and essentially, they're collectible keychains. They come in a range of colours, and have individual identities, with different names and facial expressions. The doll is the creation of Hong Kong-born, Netherlands-raised illustrator Kasing Lung, who created the Labubu as part of a cast of characters in The Monsters , a Nordic fairytale series. The Labubu is just one of the many monsters that inhabits this world and is a sort of cheeky, naughty personality (hence the uniform devillish grins). The entire family of Labubus are female, and while they play pranks and create chaos, they're meant to be harmless and kind-hearted. One may not be able to understand why the doll has blown up into such a big trend. Sure, you don't know which one you're getting until you open up the package and there's a whole universe to get through, but still, some netizens think it's ugly or creepy, and that, my friends, is exactly why. The fact that Labubus look different, unique, a little strange and out-of-the-box is why everyone is out for one. The appeal lies in the fact that this is not cute – it's any other variation of cool, edgy, weird, so-on-and-so-forth – the social currency of 21st century popularity. They've come to be a sort of high-fashion, luxury accessory, seen on purses, work totes and backpacks, a weird juxtaposition dangling from Birkins, Kellys and Lady Diors, and on the arms of popstars and celebrities. We've seen the manic, frenzy-fuelled eras of the Cabbage Patch Kids and the Tamagotchis. This time around, the adults are the ones buying into the fad – a sign of the times, if you will. There is also an air of acquired exclusivity – these little things always seem to be sold out; all part of a marketing strategy where limited quantities are supplied into the market at a time – you starve the people, they want more and they want it now. Thanks to this, Labubus are now enjoying collectibles status, being resold on collectibles websites and by third parties for multiple times the price. It all adds up, creating a sort of club, and if there's one thing the digital world has cursed us with, that is major FOMO; wanting to be on the inside , with the ones in the know, and that exactly is the anatomy of a trend. I mean, if we're under-the-table, third-partying these things, you know it's a real trend. In the UAE, authorised websites are retailing these for up to Dhs350, which is indeed a massive markup from the original price, but the demand is insanely high, and the people are making their money. Labubus are available in The Little Things stores across Dubai for the base price of Dhs79. @popmartdubai Images: Socials > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
The Guardian
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
A fluff ball with a monster face: what explains the luxury appeal of Labubu dolls?
Labubu dolls first hit the market in 2019, but in 2025, they're sustaining a viral moment. We should ask ourselves why. reports that recent 'drops' of the toy in Australia have seen queues form for blocks around its distributor, Pop Mart, with 3am-risers racing to meet the arrival of restocked merchandise. A Pop Mart spokesperson insists such a mania in pursuit of the highly-collectible plushies and miniatures has gripped Australia 'like never before'. If this isn't aggressive sales hyperbole, it's an admission of touching innocence from someone too young to know about the Cabbage Patch Kid riots of 1983, the Tamagotchi State Repression of 1996 or the brawl economics of the Beanie Baby bubble in the late 1990s. Child, sit by me, and let me tell you the tale of when I, as a nine-year-old, somehow blackmailed my mother into chaperoning me to the Northgate shopping centre, Hornsby, before dawn, so we could be first in line to acquire a soft-bodied, vinyl-faced Cabbage Patch Kid with a unique birth certificate. 'Fifty bucks for that thing,' my incredulous mother said, forever thereafter, whenever my prized adoptee entered her field of vision. 'Fifty bucks!' Ah, but what price for childhood joy? Well, you can snaffle Labubu keychain figures for a lobster or two, but joy's price tag comes in at A$300 for some popular models of Labubu on eBay, and goes up to a truly eye-popping $1,580 for some items on the Pop Mart website. The queues and the cost aren't the only reason for media interest in the fad. The explosion of Labubu popularity can be traced to the appearance of the toy, not with aspirational child models in a heavily-capitalised, after-school-television marketing campaign, but in the possession of adults. Lisa from K-pop band BlackPink was photographed with one of the miniatures dripping from a luxury handbag last year. The Barbadian icon Rihanna followed suit. Then everyone was in on it. What's the aesthetic appeal? Uh, subjective! The dolls are the creation of Hong Kong-born, Netherlands-raised artist Kasing Lung, who was inspired by Nordic mythology when he created his 'Monsters' characters for a series of picture books in 2015, of which Labubu is but one. The style that emerged (and has since been rendered by brand partnerships into fluffy polyester and vinyl) most resembles what would happen if a Cabbage Patch Kid had a love child with a Tim Burton Nightmare Before Christmas claymation and then grew up to be a bunny furry. Cute fluffy ears are quite the contrast with sharp-looking teeth; some wear farmers' overalls, others what appear to be trans-pride helmets. You can dress them yourself – people do, look up the hashtag on Bluesky – or accessories are available for purchase. Pop Mart will generously sell you tiny plastic shoes for $22. The hybrid visual identity of the object provides a neat metaphor for the hybrid marketing assault that has stoked its popularity. It's not just that the doll speaks to a contemporary K-pop/anime aesthetic that has achieved near-global familiarity. Pop Mart has also replicated the restricted-supply concept of distribution that drove the Beanie Babies craze, releasing waves of variations, some in very limited numbers, and then cutting them off – creating hype around new releases, as well as the use of collectibles markets like eBay as an ongoing, unpaid-for marketing front. Add to this, Labubu are predominantly sold in 'blind boxes', like the LOL Surprise Dolls of 2017; at purchase, you don't know which precise model of Labubu you'll acquire. There's a lottery element of possibly acquiring a rare doll with a higher potential resale value than others. No wonder the Pop Mart spokesperson was able to claim to 'This isn't just about 'toys' but a collectible, pop-culture movement.' That this 'movement' is targeted not to children but to adults is the other conspicuous difference here. The queues, the celebrity vaunting and the online fandoms exist in a conspicuously grown-up consumer conversation. Men's fashion mag GQ has already run an article about the doll as a popular accessory in the growing market of men's luxury handbags. The American design academic Gozde Goncu Berk observes that trends exerting this level of heft do not exist in a vacuum; they are embedded in a cultural context. Fads catch on because they encapsulate a convergence of social anxieties, technological shifts, and shared desires that we may struggle to articulate but attach to with instant familiarity. In this framework, the doll becomes a totem for collective introspection. Like blockbuster comic book adaptations, Ghostbusters reboots, adult colouring books, video games, Lego masters and the increasing popularity of dollhousing, maybe Labubu offer a retreat into an illusion of childhood simplicity, to escape the complexities that presently overwhelm our adult world. We might consider that in a consumer society where possession defines us but has already stuffed 300,000 objects into the typical home, a doll on a handbag represents the desperate seizure of a diminishing real estate opportunity. In a moment of global markets and – now, thanks to AI – mass production of everything, maybe the fantasy of limited availability substitutes for creativity or specialness. Maybe a fluff ball with a monster face is the comfort object that today's bleakness recognises. But if we're getting up at 3am to queue for them, friends, one thing is certain. We are the Labubu. And the Labubu is us. Van Badham is a Guardian Australia columnist
