Labubus: Small dolls with big impact
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CTV News
13 hours ago
- CTV News
What is a Labubu and why are they so popular?
A new trend has people shelling out some serious cash. CTV's Ashley Bacon takes a look at why Labubus are flying off shelves. There's a new highly-coveted collectible that's turning heads – and causing some confusion. Labubu is a brand of designer plush characters based off of storybook characters created by children's book illustrator Kasing Lung. He was born in Hong Kong and moved to the Netherlands at an early age. It was there were he first became interested and influenced by local folktales. Lung's fascination led to a series called 'The Monsters' which inspired what we now know as the rabbit-eared Labubu. The creatures have been spotted around the world, clipped onto bags as fashion accessories or proudly displayed as artwork. But there is also debate about their appeal. Many find their sharp toothed-grin offputting while others, like Rihanna and Lisa from the K-pop group Blackpink, have sported the impish accessories. Labubu figures have been available since 2019, but it wasn't until recently that they surged in popularity. Buying blind Pop Mart, the Beijing-based company behind the critter craze, is well known for selling 'blind boxes,' meaning consumers don't actually know what they are getting until buying the item and cracking open the packaging. Although it is possible to buy individual Labubu figures, most hope for the best by making a blind purchase. 'It doesn't matter if you're a kid or if you're a grown adult with your own money,' Jing Wan, associate professor of marketing at the University of Guelph, said. 'What is appealing is the element of surprise, that every purchase is a bit of a gamble.' Online streamers have also hopped on the trend and hosted livestreams where they open boxes and bags in the hopes of unveiling a rare variant to a captivated audience. 'Even though we might not think of these purchases as gambling per se, you're still spending money buying in uncertainty,' Wan said. 'You're buying a probability. You describe that excitement of unboxing right in that moment. You don't know what's in there, but you know that there is a chance there's something you really want.' Building excitement The excitement of the unknown is nothing new. For years, content creators have posted videos opening packs of Pokemon cards in hopes of finding something rare. In the 2000's, Hatchimals also had a line of blind box products that retailers struggled to keep on store shelves. 'I think the allure of blind boxes and mystery bags will stick around,' Dan Mayhew, owner of B&K Collectibles in Kitchener, Ont., said. 'Whether or not they're going to be specifically for Labubus, I can't say that as much.' B&K Collectibles Dan Mayhew, owner of B&K Collectibles, posed for a photo on July 22, 2025. (Ashley Bacon/CTV News) The thrill and potential disappointment is part of the process. 'As soon as you open it, that sense of excitement rushes through you and even if you don't get the one you wanted, the anticipation, the excitement, the hope will still reinforce you, [and] make you want to do it again,' Wan said. For people who aren't willing to take the risk, Labubu products are available through resellers and third-party marketplaces. But experts urge caution as knockoffs, sometimes known as 'Lafufus', often plague online catalogues.
CTV News
13 hours ago
- CTV News
Going to the Blackpink concert at Rogers Stadium? What to know about GO and TTC service
TTC signage and staff point concert-goers towards Rogers Stadium as they exit Downsview Station in Toronto, Monday, July 7, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sammy Kogan GO Transit has adjusted the schedule for the last northbound train leaving Rogers Stadium and added additional southbound trains to Union Station for the two-day Blackpink concert. The Allandale Waterfront-bound train will depart Downsview Park GO Station at 11:22 p.m., nine minutes later than the originally scheduled time. During Coldplay's concert earlier this month, some fans complained that the show hadn't finished when the final northbound trip left the station at 11:13 p.m. In addition, GO Transit says there will be three new southbound trains to Union Station, which are at 11:45 p.m., 11:55 p.m., and 12:05 a.m. Meanwhile, the TTC says it will also be adding extra subway service during the two concerts. However, subway service on Line 1 between St. Clair West and Union stations will be replaced by shuttle buses at 12:30 a.m. for planned track work. The ride home is free.
CBC
16 hours ago
- CBC
Labubus: Small dolls with big impact
Storybook characters turned toys and popularized by K-pop stars, Labubus have become the latest big thing partly because the buyer doesn't know what they're going to get until they open the box.
