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Forbes
6 hours 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
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First Post
9 hours 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
Bloomberg
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Bloomberg
Delulu Over Labubu? The Market Has Its Say
Save This is Bloomberg Opinion Today, a dramaturgical dollhouse of Bloomberg Opinion's opinions. Sign up here. I've avoided the global Labubu phenomenon for months, even since I saw the ugly creatures pop up on the social media feeds of addled influencers. But now the ever-astute Shuli Ren has taken note of the toy's enormous popularity and profitability— and how that very success betrays a weakness in the business plan of its Beijing-based manufacturer Pop Mart International Group Ltd. Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal
The Independent
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Labubus are taking over the internet – and they've just been restocked here
Fuzzy, mischievous-looking, fang-toothed characters dangling from luxury bags, Labubus are the bizarre fashion trend that has the internet divided. Despite being sold out for weeks, the dolls are now being restocked thanks to TikTok Shop's summer sale. Mainly sold by the Chinese toy company Pop Mart, the designer toy-turned-fashion collectables are incredibly popular. A queue outside the Birmingham Pop Mart store was so long that it made headlines, and rare Labubus are selling for more than £1,000 each. A few weeks ago, a child-sized Labubu sold for more than $150,000. You can now even rent Labubus for upwards of £4 a day on platforms like By Rotation (alongside luxury accessories from the likes of Chanel and Hermès). Despite recent fandom, the Labubu character isn't new. It was designed in 2015 by Hong Kong-born illustrator Kasing Lung, as part of his collection of characters, The Monsters, inspired by Dutch and Nordic folklore. Leaning into maximalism, Labubus bring a pop of personality and fun to any outfit, so it's easy to see the appeal. Their popularity can be traced back to Lisa from the K-pop band BlackPink. Having shared Labubus on her Instagram stories, the singer confirmed her love of Pop Mart during a blind unboxing for Vanity Fair, and even referred to Labubu as her 'baby' when interviewed for Teen Vogue. Since then, Rihanna has been seen adorning her Louis Vuitton bag with a lychee berry Labubu, and Dua Lipa has also jumped on the trend. Emma Roberts also took to Instagram to open a whole blind box. Now, the charms can often be seen dangling from Birkins and Miu Miu bags, lending them a fun and colourful twist, though, of course, you don't need a designer bag to enjoy the trend. Labubu dolls are often sold in 'blind boxes'. These contain a toy chosen at random from the series, so you won't know which one you've bought until you open the box. As well as regular designs, there are also so-called 'secret edition' Labubus, which are especially rare and sought-after by collectors. The latest is the Big Into Energy series (£17.50, which dropped this spring. To give you an idea of scale, the toys are around 6in in size (about the same size as an iPhone 16). With a surge of interest in bag charms – such as Coach hanging cuddly toys from its bags at its New York Fashion Week show – the hashtag Labubu has appeared more than one million times on the toys sold out fast. But now, TikTok have announced a restock as part of its huge sale on TikTok shop - here's everything you need to know. Where to buy Labubus in the UK Labubu figures are available on the Pop Mart platform, in Pop Mart shops or via the retailer's TikTok shop. It's been near-impossible to get your hands on a doll online, but now TikTok has announced a summer sale with a restock of the viral Labubus. New drops of the bag charms are set to be available today (27 June) between 2pm and 7pm, but other dolls from the range are currently available on the PopMart shopfront. You might find you have more luck buying the toys at other retailers, such as StockX, Depop, eBay and the Pop Mart store on Amazon. However, you need to be wary when shopping elsewhere, as counterfeit versions (jokingly referred to as 'Lafufus') are common on third-party sites. It pays to research the differences between the fakes and the real thing. For instance, collectors suggest looking for signs such as the brightness of the packaging, whether the dolls have a Pop Mart stamp on their foot, the number of teeth the dolls should have (nine), and the presence of a QR code on the back of the packaging, which should take you to the official Pop Mart website. There are also several Pop Mart shops in the UK, so if you'd rather buy a Labubu in person, you can head to the locations in Manchester, Birmingham, London, and Cambridge. Labubus are also available from Pop Mart's vending machines, known as Robo Shops, which can be found in London and Reading. With the fashion rental market booming, it's perhaps no surprise that you can now rent Labubu dolls for £3 a day. The trend may not last, so renting a doll for a specific outfit might be more cost-effective than buying your own Labubu – you might not be as keen to hang a doll off your bag once summer is over. Leading rental platform By Rotation has a variety of dolls to rent, starting at £3 a day ( Hurr has been slower to jump on the trend; at the time of writing, the platform only has one doll to rent (from £22,
Refinery29
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
Thieving, Reselling & Stalking: The Lengths We're Going To For Labubus
Labubus popped up seemingly overnight. Though not a new toy, their mainstream popularity has suddenly skyrocketed. Since a friend pointed them out to me, I've suddenly noticed them attached to several people's handbags on the Tube — both men and women — and even heard a story of a woman snatching and running away with a person's Labubu on a busy road in east London. It isn't easy to get your hands on one the legal way. Pop Mart, the Chinese toy company who sells the plush monsters designed by Kasing Lung, recently had to pull Labubu stock from its stores due to ' safety issues ' as people were fighting over them. Since being reintroduced to stores, I've heard anecdotally that any available stock disappears within 10 minutes of the store opening time. Although the toys are typically sold for 50 yuan in China (equivalent to just over $7), the scarcity of them has driven up prices through resellers. This month, a human-sized Labubu sold at auction for over $150,000, and a limited edition release went for over $31,000. Celebrities are getting their hands on the toys too, including actress Emma Roberts who posted an excitable unboxing video. Rihanna, Dua Lipa and Blackpink's Lisa also all own them. At a time when we're constantly talking about high living costs and a poor job market, have we all gone mad? This might be another case of the lipstick effect, in a fuzzy monster form, a theory that during times of financial hardship, people seek out small inexpensive pleasures (historically, lipstick). But the kicker is that Labubus don't feel so inexpensive anymore. The time, effort, and strategic planning to get your hands on one makes them costly in more ways than one. 'I'm honestly a little embarrassed to say this, but I've spent well over $500 on them,' says Ethan Melillo, 32, from Rhode Island. He's been collecting Labubus for a month, and now owns 26. 'I kept seeing them on TikTok and was honestly confused at first because I didn't even know what they were,' he says. 'They reminded me a lot of the Furby craze from the late '90s and early 2000s. As more content creators started showing them off, I figured I might as well get one too. My first was a Coca-Cola Labubu that I bought on Pop Mart. I think what draws people into the trend is the exclusivity because it's really based on luck when you're trying to get one from the Pop Mart website.' Melillo has never bought from a reseller, given the hiked up prices. He sticks to Pop Mart and TikTok Live events. 'It's taken a lot of effort to get the ones I want, especially since I'm not just competing with thousands of other collectors, but also with bots that snap them up just to resell.' So why go to all that hassle for a toy? For Melillo, it's about nostalgia. 'It reminds me of collecting Pokémon cards as a kid. It's also been a really fun thing for my wife and me to do together. We open them up as a little activity, and some of them now live on my bookshelf or pop up in my social media posts. A few are used as accessories on my wife's purse.' He thinks it's time to slow down on buying more, but he does have his eye on the 'secret' editions from sets. Secret ones, for those of us less acquainted with the ins and outs of the Labubu world, are rare collectables usually found in blind boxes. They're so rare, Melillo tells me, that you have a 1-in-72 chance of getting one. 'But I'm not about to buy hundreds of boxes just for a shot at one. I'll stick to the thrill of the hunt.' Some people have been onto Labubus since before the trend took off. Hannah Gumbley, 26, from London, started collecting the toys last year after going into a Pop Mart store near the city centre for the first time. 'I've always been a lover of trinkets and cute collectibles, collecting Sanrio and Sylvanian Families from a young age. Something about Labubus spoke to me. I think it was something about the fact they were kinda creepy and kinda cute that I loved,' Gumbley says. She couldn't buy one that day as they were sold out, so she went to eBay. 'Naively, I didn't realize at the time that even then there was a huge market of 'lafufus' [fake versions] and accidentally bought one. Since then I have learnt my lesson and only brought them from Pop Mart stores.' Now, her collection stands at 12, including some special editions. They hang from her bags, and she picks which one to use so it will match her outfit. It's about self-expression. In total, she's spent over £200 ($275) on them, avoiding reseller prices. 'When I first started collecting they were much easier to get a hold of but since the boom I haven't been able to get my hands on any, only getting the Big Into Energy series this week because my friend had won the raffle and we shared a box,' Gumbley says. She has more special editions and secret ones on her shopping list, including the Singapore exclusive Hide and Seek mermaid, the Mokoko Close to Sweet, and the Wacky Mart Tempura Prawn. 'A must!!,' she adds. 'I think my hunt to complete my Labubu collection will never be finalized.' For the beginner collector, there are plenty of lafufus to avoid. Emmeline Roane, 30, from Philadelphia, bought her first legit one in May, then a second in June. She already collected toys and when she saw the hype on social media around Labubus, she knew there had to be a new branch to her toy collection. The first one cost $60 (bought in a mall in San Francisco's Japantown) and the second was $45 (found on Facebook from a seller in Philadelphia). 'It's a bit of a challenge to find real ones. Resellers buy them up and resell them for more via Facebook Marketplace or some stores in Chinatown [in Philadelphia] sell them,' Roane says. Despite that, it's still fun for her. 'I love that when I wear them out, people have so many questions about them and say it makes them feel more inclined to accessorize with funky toys.' However, Roane won't be buying any more. Two is enough as she tends to collect one to three of a toy type. Her advice for people wanting to avoid fakes is to pay attention to whether they're being sold out of the box. 'But sometimes they're made to look like real ones in the box, too. It's a gamble if you don't know how to authenticate them. I check by using my Pop Mart app and scanning the QR code on the box.' Not everyone is out to collect them for keeps, though. Kelly, 32, from Macao, has been reselling Labubus since the start of this year. Inspiration struck after she waited in a long queue for them at a pop-up store with friends. 'I realized that I need to queue for that stuff! So I guess, if I already queued for my friend, why don't I get more and sell to others who didn't come and queue? One of my friends was doing this already, so we established a 'partnership'. She is the one to get customers online, and I'm the one who queues and gets the Labubus.' The duo resell them on Rednote, Xianyu (a secondhand platform in China) and Carousel (in Hong Kong). For the latest Labubu series, people are willing to pay more than double their cost, she says, and because she sells them in a boxset, people have a chance at getting a 'secret' one, which is more expensive. This means she can up the price on her boxsets. In terms of pounds, she can often make as much as $140 in profit from one sale, especially if it's a rare edition. It's getting hard for her to continue selling so much because of how difficult it is now, compared with the start of the year, to buy them. 'It's time-consuming, and most of the time when I get to the store, there is already a long queue or products are sold out.' Kelly has resorted to Pop Mart's 'online lucky draw'. She has 10 accounts to maximize her chances of winning. How long we'll care about Labubus for remains to be seen, but for now, the craze is full-throttle. Guess what: After starting this piece thinking the whole thing was ridiculous, I now kind of want one, too.
