Latest news with #HongKong-born
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
How Labubu dolls are helping push China's soft power
The Labubu dolls, with their pointy ears and sharp grins, have been a rage around the world. Their popularity began to soar after K-pop idol Lisa of the band Blackpink spoke about her extensive personal collection. But now these dolls created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung and sold by giant toy company Pop Mart seem to be helping Beijing push its soft power read more People look at collectable designer art toy Labubu at a Pop Mart pop-up store in Siam Center shopping mall in Bangkok on May 6, 2025. AFP Much has already been written about the Labubu dolls. These cute dolls with pointy ears and sharp grins have been a rage around the world – especially in China. Their popularity began to soar after K-Pop idol Lisa of the band BlackPink spoke about her extensive personal collection of these dolls. Now, these Labubu dolls – created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung and sold by giant toy company Pop Mart – seem to be helping Beijing push its soft power. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Let's take a closer look: Building an image abroad It is important to note that China has for years tried to improve its image abroad. The Belt and Road Initiative, giving loans to its neighbours, lending its pandas out to zoos, allowing visa-free entry to increase tourism are just some of the initiatives China has undertaken. Unlike Hollywood, which spreads America's cultural imprint around the world, China's movies and music really haven't caught on. While its neighbours South Korea and Japan, which are famed for their fashion, cinema and music, China is best known for Shein – a fast-fashion website. With Chinese products thought to be cheap and of low quality, Beijing's firms have Just wanted to check if we have left I'm cleaning the slope and two other bank with the left manager stated struggled to sell designer goods under their own brands. 'It has been hard for the world's consumers to perceive China as a brand-creating nation,' the University of Maryland's Fan Yang said. Not exactly the epitome of cool. In places such as Europe and North America, China continues to be viewed with suspicion by many. This image provided by Pop Mart, shows Labubu, the plush toy from China's Pop Mart. AP However, the Labubu is now giving China a chance to be viewed in a new light by consumers around the world. From Los Angeles to London, people are forming long lines to buy the Labubu from Pop Mart. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But what's different this time? The dolls are 'a bit quirky and ugly and very inclusive, so people can relate', interior designer Lucy Shitova said at a Pop Mart store in London. 'Now everything goes viral… because of social media. And yes, it's cool. It's different.' The store is no longer offering in-person sales of Labubus for fear that violence may break out. A piece in China Daily said Labubus were on the forefront of Chinese cool power – which is described as an increasing appreciation of Chinese local brands and cultural products among young people around the world. It said the Labubus represent 'the pursuit of beautiful things and the yearning for a better life beyond national boundaries'. What do experts say? A piece in The Conversation warned against being deceived by the Labubus' looks, saying it carries 'serious cultural weight'. 'It reflects a China that is no longer just a producer of goods, but a producer of desire.' It also warned against dismissing their popularity as a fad or passing fancy. Instead, it says the Labubu's should be viewed as a change in how 'Chinese cultural products can evoke emotion, status, and aspiration on a global scale'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Through viral exports like Labubu, China is 'undergoing a soft-power shift where its products and image are increasingly cool among young Westerners', said Allison Malmsten, an analyst at China-based Daxue Consulting. Malmsten said she believed social media could boost China's global image 'similar to that of Japan in the 80s to 2010s with Pokemon and Nintendo'. 'It might just be a matter of time before even more Chinese brands become globally recognisable,' Yang said. A Labubu doll in China recently fetched $150,000 (Rs 1.28 crore) at auction. Reuters Brands such as designer womenswear label Shushu/Tong, Shanghai-based Marchen and Beijing-based handbag maker Songmont have also gained recognition abroad over the past few years. Video app TikTok—designed by China's ByteDance—paved the way for Labubu's ascent when it became the first Chinese-branded product to be indispensable for young people internationally. Joshua Kurlantzick from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) said that 'TikTok probably played a role in changing consumers' minds about China'. TikTok, which is officially blocked within China but still accessible with VPN software, has over one billion users, including what the company says is nearly half of the US population. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The app has become a focus of national security fears in the United States, with a proposed ban seeing American TikTok users flock to another Chinese app, Rednote, where they were welcomed as digital 'refugees'. A conduit for Chinese social media memes and fashion trends, TikTok hosts over 1.7 million videos about Labubu. With inputs from agencies
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Labubu In A Lehenga? Yes, And It Even Has A Desi Name Now
Last Updated: The famous doll is seen dressed in a saree and wearing a maang teeka, a traditional Indian forehead ornament. Labubu dolls are everywhere on the Internet. These odd-looking collectables—called cute, ugly, creepy and charming all at once—were created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung. They are produced by the Chinese toy giant Pop Mart. Now, the craze has hit India too. A new viral video shows what a Labubu doll would look like if it were Indian. The video was shared by the Instagram page 24thspoke, a brand that sells accessories and also offers Labubu dolls. It features an 'Indianised" version of the doll, and social media users are loving it. In the video, the doll is dressed in a saree and wears a maang teeka, a traditional Indian forehead ornament. A Hindi song plays in the background as the doll poses in full desi style. The creative twist has won many hearts online. People are reacting with humour and affection. One user joked, 'Labubupreet Kaur. Hahah." Another said, 'Pehli baar yeh cheez cute lagi hai." The name Labubu Kaur is now trending as a nickname for this Indian Labubu. That's not all. A funny theory is also spreading online. Some users are saying that this Indian Labubu doll is getting married to Tatya Vinchu, a haunted doll from a South Indian film. Memes and comments are pouring in, and the internet can't get enough of this crossover idea. Labubu dolls have become popular with collectors, celebrities and toy lovers. Their quirky look and limited-edition designs make them a hit. They are also a big reason for the success of Pop Mart. Wang Ning, the 38-year-old founder, Chairman and CEO of Pop Mart, is now a billionaire. According to a Forbes April 2025 report, his real-time net worth stands at $18.7 billion, thanks to the worldwide popularity of Labubu. From shelves in China to fan-made weddings in India, Labubu dolls have clearly become more than just toys—they're a global pop culture phenomenon. And now, with Labubupreet Kaur joining the party, the craze is only growing. First Published:
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Writers of colour dominate Miles Franklin shortlist
Five writers of colour have been shortlisted for Australia's most prestigious literary prize. Hong Kong-born Brian Castro, Sri-Lankan-born Michelle de Kretser, Tongan-Australian Winnie Dunn, Burruberongal woman Julie Janson, Malaysian-born Siang Lu and Fiona McFarlane comprise the shortlist for the 2025 Miles Franklin Literary Award, released on Wednesday. The winner of the $60,000 prize will be announced on July 25 by award trustee Perpetual and the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund. Janson, Lu and debut author Dunn are shortlisted for the first time, joining 2013 and 2018 winner de Kretser, and Castro and McFarlane, who have previously been shortlisted. Judges said the shortlist "celebrates writing that refuses to compromise". "Each of these works vitalises the form of the novel and invents new languages for the Australian experience," they said. Copyright Agency chief executive Josephine Johnston said the shortlist highlighted the extraordinary breadth of Australian storytelling. "From a powerful debut to new works by first-time nominees and acclaimed authors, the shortlist reflects the richness and diversity of voices shaping our literary landscape," she said. Shortlisted authors each receive $5000 from the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund. The Award was established in 1954 by the estate of My Brilliant Career author Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin to celebrate the Australian character and creativity. It supports the betterment of literature by recognising the novel of the highest literary merit each year which presents "Australian life in any of its phases". 2025 MILES FRANKLIN AWARD SHORTLIST: * Chinese Postman by Brian Castro * Theory & Practice by Michelle de Kretser * Dirt Poor Islanders by Winnie Dunn * Compassion by Julie Janson * Ghost Cities by Siang Lu * Highway 13 by Fiona McFarlane
HKFP
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- HKFP
Comedian Jimmy O. Yang partnered with tourism body to ‘tell good stories of Hong Kong'
Hong Kong-born American stand-up comedian Jimmy O. Yang has become the latest 'marquee' celebrity to partner with the city's tourism body to 'tell good stories of Hong Kong.' The 37-year-old comedy star, who wrapped up five sold-out shows in the city earlier this month, shared a video on social media on Tuesday featuring some of Hong Kong's most iconic tourist attractions. It shows the comedian trying char siu – Chinese barbecue pork – at a local restaurant, visiting the Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan, going to a cocktail bar, and riding the Ngong Ping 360 cable car on Lantau Island to see the Big Buddha. O. Yang, who speaks both English and Cantonese in the clip, says: 'That's why you gotta love Hong Kong, man. All in one place – we saw the mountain, the ocean, the Buddha, we ate the best char siu.' The one-minute 34-second clip was produced in collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), a government-funded statutory body tasked with promoting inbound tourism. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jimmy O Yang 歐陽萬成 (@jimmyoyang) In a media statement on Tuesday, HKTB said O. Yang was among more than 100 influencers and celebrities from 13 countries and regions it had invited to visit Hong Kong this summer and 'tell good stories of Hong Kong.' The tourism body called the promotional video featuring the comedian exploring his hometown its 'latest marquee collaboration.' When contacted by HKFP, a spokesperson at the HKTB said on Tuesday that it had invited O. Yang only to film a video while he was in the city and that it did not pay for his flight or accommodation. The spokesperson also told HKFP that the tourism body would not disclose its budget or spending on influencer collaborations. O. Yang has not responded to HKFP's enquiries about whether he was paid to film promotional videos with the HKTB. Prior to the video shared on Tuesday, O. Yang also posted other short clips of him visiting local shops and eateries in the city. It is unclear whether those videos were also in collaboration with the HKTB. On June 14, the second day of O. Yang's three-day shows at the Hong Kong Coliseum, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law posted two photos on Facebook – one of her at the show and another with the comedian. The campaign to showcase the city's 'vibrant summer appeal' aimed to collectively reach more than 100 million followers, the HKTB statement added. According to the annual budget announced in February, the Hong Kong government earmarked more than HK$1.23 billion for the HKTB in the financial year of 2025-26. The HKTB's annual report 2023/24 stated that the tourism body spent over HK$710 million on 'promotional, advertising and literature expenses.' The tourism body collaborated with mainland Chinese social media platforms Douyin, Weibo and Xiaohongshu and invited influencers to co-create content about visiting Hong Kong. It said more than 2,000 industry members, media representatives and key opinion leaders (KOLs) were invited to Hong Kong in 2023. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law told the Legislative Council in April that the tourism body invited 2,600 influencers, KOLs, media and trade partners in 2024, while in the first quarter this year, it invited 650. American streamer IShowSpeed However, the HKTB was snubbed by American YouTube streamer IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr, when it tried to offer assistance during his visit to Hong Kong in early April. 'The tourism board actually approached Speed on various arrangements and indicated their willingness to provide assistance, but Speed did not approach the tourism board, so the government did not take any action,' Chief Executive John Lee said. Watkins, who currently has more than 40 million subscribers on YouTube, was mobbed by fans as he live-streamed his visit in Hong Kong for more than nine and a half hours on April 4, coinciding with Ching Ming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day. Hong Kong has faced challenges in reviving its tourism industry since lifting years-long Covid restrictions. Visitor numbers have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, with tourism-related sectors citing manpower shortages as a key hurdle to recovery. The government launched a series of initiatives to boost the economic outlook, including a 'night vibes' campaign in September 2023 involving movie screenings and night markets along the harbourfront. According to the 2025 budget, overnight visitors are expected to stay an average of 3.2 nights this year. Inbound tourism expenditure is projected to grow by 8 per cent – from HK$198.4 billion to HK$214.4 billion.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Everybody wants a Labubu doll
What can a plushie fetch you? If the plushie in question is Chinese company Pop Mart's Labubu doll, the answer is $22.7 billion dollars, soft power and explosive popularity. Based on a character from The Monsters, a toy series created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, the dolls were launched in 2019. The stories are centred around Labubu, who is described by the creators as having a 'cheerful grin' which 'reminds us that no matter what challenges we face, a smile can lift our spirits and lead us towards happiness' . Their popularity rose steadily, until it blew up this year after celebrities, including Rihanna, Dua Lipa and K-Pop star Lisa of Blackpink were spotted toting Labubu dolls. This is not the first time a toy has caused a frenzy. In 1983, the craze for Cabbage Patch Kids dolls — which came with birth certificates — caused riots in several shops in the US, even landing customers in hospital. The 1990s saw a similar fad with Beanie Babies, which were marketed as limited edition collectibles amid a scenario of contrived scarcity. What explains the dizzying interest shown in a doll, including by adults? Part of it may come down to the fuzzy cuteness of the design: With their big eyes and toothy smile, Labubus have a goofy appeal. In its home market of China, for example, the doll shot to popularity during the pandemic as a cuddly distraction from the gloom and doom. Its character description also says that the Labubu is 'kind-hearted and always wants to help, but often accidentally achieves the opposite'. Perhaps this is also key to the toy's popularity. After all, who hasn't felt a little bit useless or inept, despite the best intentions? It may be the Labubus' relatability that has made them one of the most viral toys of recent times.
