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Forbes
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
TikTok's Labubu Doll Trend, Explained
Close-up detail view of seven Labubu monsters / charms / dolls / plus from "Big Into Energy" collection : Loyalty, Happiness, Luck, Hope, Serenity, Love an Secret, during a street style fashion photo session, on June 12, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by) Getty Images Fuzzy little creatures have taken over TikTok and Instagram with the advent of 2025's unexpected fashion trend, Labubu monster dolls. Labubu dolls are monsters from a children's book series that leaped into the mainstream, exploding into a trendy fashion accessory and desirable collectible. There's something familiar about the spiky-toothed Labubu—they bear a slight resemblance to Troll dolls, or even Huggy Wuggy, the cutesy horror icon of YouTube. Many have pointed out the similarities to the Wild Things of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are , which seems appropriate, given that the creatures sprung from a children's picture book. Labubu first appeared in The Monsters Trilogy by artist Kasing Lung, who based his striking illustrations on figures from Nordic mythology. Lung moved from Hong Kong to the Netherlands as a child, and sharpened his Dutch by reading regional fairytales, sparking inspiration for his book. In 2019, Lung struck a licensing deal with Pop Mart, transforming his monsters into collectibles, and eventually inspiring a fashion frenzy. Lung describes his monster as a mischievous id, saying 'Labubu can do what I want to do, but I don't dare to do it.' Why Are Labubu Dolls So Popular? Much of the dolls popularity has been credited to Blackpink (and White Lotus ) star Lisa, who has been one of the most prominent Labubu fans, but many celebrities such as Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and Kim Kardashian have been spotted with the dolls. While celebrities and influencers have boosted the trend, funny memes and TikTok clips catapulted Labubu into virality, turning the dolls into ultra-desirable collectibles, like a monstrous incarnation of Beanie Babies. All of a sudden, Labubus are everywhere. The secret sauce to Labubu's popularity might be the 'blind boxes' they are sold in, in which the color of Labubu is revealed only when the doll is unboxed, adding to the excitement of unwrapping a rare figure. The chance of a randomly distributed rare find is similar to that of video game loot boxes, where the unknowable outcome can fuel additive consumer spending, and has even been compared to the effects of gambling. Hence, TikTokers are posting comedy sketches of mock-meltdowns, beheading their unwanted dolls after opening another packet and getting an undesirable color. Some are speculating that the next step is an animated Labubu movie, comparing the monster craze to Pokemon. The dolls keep being inserted into scenes from The Devil Wears Prada , and melting into the primordial soup of AI-generated Italian Brainrot. Many TikTok commentators have urged fashionistas to be more original and stop chasing trends for the sake of it (although, that's pretty much how trends work)—people want these dolls because they are popular, and they are popular because people want them. We've seen the spread of Gremlins , Minions , and now, Labubu—it seems that the appeal of mischievous, diminutive creatures is simply irresistible. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes The Controversial Ending Of Disney's New 'Lilo & Stitch,' Explained By Dani Di Placido Forbes How 'JD Vance Edit' Memes Broke The Internet By Dani Di Placido Forbes The AI-Generated Studio Ghibli Trend, Explained By Dani Di Placido Forbes An Episode Of 'Spongebob' Introduced 'Nosferatu' To Gen Z By Dani Di Placido
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
South China Morning Post
28-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Labubu toymaker Pop Mart is latest Chinese app to go viral in the US
Trend-toy maker Pop Mart topped the shopping category in Apple's US App Store on Friday, becoming the latest Chinese app to capture the hearts of American consumers, thanks to the popularity of its Labubu plush dolls. Advertisement In overall app rankings, Pop Mart surged to seventh place, according to online traffic data provider Sensor Tower. It dropped out of the top 25 by Sunday and ranked 21st among shopping apps. The Pop Mart app's dramatic rise coincided with the launch of Labubu 3.0 , or 'Big Into Energy' – a vibrant collection of seven Norse mythology-inspired 'monsters' designed by Hong Kong-born artist Lung Ka-sing. Shares of Beijing-based, Hong Kong-listed Pop Mart rose 12 per cent to HK$193 at the close of trading on Monday. A Pop Mart store in a shopping mall in Beijing. Photo: EPA-EFE Pop Mart's ascent in US download charts follows the growing popularity of other Chinese shopping apps, such as wholesale platform DHgate and Alibaba Group Holding's Taobao marketplace . American consumers have been seeking direct access to low-cost Chinese goods amid tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. Advertisement Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.
Express Tribune
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Quirky collectible toy 'Labubu' becomes latest fashion sensation across Asia and beyond
Labubu, the quirky plush toy created by Hong Kong-born illustrator Kasing Lung, has become a global phenomenon as fans across Asia and beyond clamour to collect the latest release. The new Big Into Energy series, launched on Friday, sparked large crowds at malls and sold out rapidly online. With its mischievous grin, large eyes, and rabbit-like ears, Labubu has become a cultural icon, frequently seen at fan events and fashion shows, including Paris Fashion Week. Photo: Instagram First introduced in 2015 through Lung's "The Monsters" series, Labubu's popularity has soared in the past year, largely fuelled by celebrity endorsements. Blackpink's Lisa, who recently called Labubu "my baby," has been a notable influence in boosting the toy's profile among younger fans. The Big Into Energy collection includes six pendants and a secret figure, each representing different emotions. Sold for between $13 and $16 across Asia, the figures are already reselling for as much as $90 on platforms like StockX. In Bangkok, buyers queued at CentralWorld's Pop Mart store hours before opening, despite pre-registered slots. According to Pop Mart, sales increased by 619% last year. Photo: Reuters Pop Mart's strategy of selling Labubu in blind boxes, where the contents are a mystery until opened, has added to the brand's allure. The Monsters series is Pop Mart's highest-selling franchise, generating around 3 billion yuan ($410 million) in sales last year. The brand's expansion into markets like the United States and Australia continues, although American buyers now face higher prices due to trade tariffs.
