Labubu dolls are one of the few things in the world of collectibles that have gotten as much attention as they have. These cute, fuzzy creatures with their mischievous grins and Nordic-inspired charm have grown beyond their origins as storybook characters to become a huge cultural phenomenon. There are long lines outside Pop Mart stores, celebrities endorsing them, and heated online debates about them. Labubu dolls have caused a frenzy that shows no signs of slowing down in 2025. But what are these dolls, and why are they the hottest accessory of the year?
The Story of Labubu: From Book to Fame
Kasing Lung, an artist from Hong Kong who grew up in the Netherlands, made Labubu for his picture book series The Monsters in 2015. Lung got the idea for her tribe of female elves from Nordic folklore. They are known for being kind but also a little naughty. The main character in the series, Labubu, is a “devilish but cute monster” with big eyes, pointy ears, and a grin that shows off nine sharp teeth. With her are other characters from The Monsters, like Zimomo (the leader with a spiked tail), Tycoco (her skeleton-looking boyfriend), Mokoko, Pato, and Spooky. Each one adds to the fun world of The Monsters.
In 2019, Lung worked with Pop Mart, a big toy company in China, to turn these storybook characters into collectible figurines. The partnership changed the game, and Pop Mart’s unique “blind box” sales model, in which customers don’t know which doll they’ll get until they open the box, increased interest and demand. The first Labubu key-ring series, Exciting Macaron, came out in October 2023. After that, there were collections like Have a Seat, Fall in Wild, and Big Into Energy. These releases, which often included rare “secret” figures, made Labubu a worldwide hit, and fans eagerly searched for their favorite designs.
The Viral Craze: Collectible Fever and Celebrities
In April 2024, the Labubu craze really took off when Lalisa “Lisa” Manobal of the K-pop group Blackpink was seen with a Labubu doll attached to her purse. This one picture started a worldwide craze, with famous people like Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, Dua Lipa, David Beckham, and even Indian stars like Ananya Panday showing off Labubus as bag charms on expensive bags. Gen Z and millennials loved the dolls’ “ugly-cute” look, which combined fluffy bodies with creepy, toothy grins. They saw them as both comforting things from their past and bold fashion statements.
The blind box strategy from Pop Mart made the craze even bigger. Most plush bag charms cost between $15 and $30. The element of surprise and the chance to unbox a rare figure made collectors buy more than one box, and some spent thousands on resale sites like eBay and StockX. A limited-edition Labubu x Vans doll sold for $10,500, which is 125 times its original $85 retail price. A rare Chestnut Cocoa Labubu can sell for more than $149. A life-sized Labubu doll sold for more than $150,000 at an auction in Beijing in June 2025. This shows how valuable these dolls are as collectibles.
There has been some chaos in the frenzy. Long lines outside Pop Mart stores, website crashes during new “drops,” and even reports of fights breaking out among shoppers in the UK show how crazy Labubu mania is. In India, resellers like Hype Fly India and Crep Dog Crew sell regular figures for ₹2,200 to ₹4,500, while limited editions can go for up to ₹15,000.
Cultural Effects and Disagreement
Labubu dolls have become part of many different cultures, not just because they sell well. In Thailand, Labubu images became very popular in 2024, and people thought they could bring money and good luck. This led to Buddhist amulets and sacred tattoos with the character. The People’s Action Party (PAP) Sengkang team brought a Labubu plush keychain dressed in a PAP logo shirt to a community event as a “volunteer.” At the same time, a temple used Labubu figurines in the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, which led to debates about whether this was cultural innovation or disrespect.
But not everyone likes Labubu. In Russia, officials suggested banning the dolls in 2025 because they looked “frightening” and could be bad for kids’ mental health, as well as because the labels didn’t follow the rules. Authorities in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region took more than 4,000 dolls, saying they caused problems with behavior and were connected to “demonic spirits.” People have linked Labubu to the ancient Mesopotamian demon Pazuzu on TikTok and Reddit, mostly because of their sharp-toothed smiles. Experts and Snopes.com have shown that these claims are false, but some fans have publicly destroyed their dolls, and Pakistani actress Mishi Khan warned against their “negative spiritual energy.” On April Fools’ Day, Pop Mart made fun of the claims by sending out a fake “recall notice.”
People are also worried about the rise of fake Labubus, which are called “Lafufus.” In the UK, Trading Standards took thousands of fake goods, saying they could choke people and contain harmful chemicals. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission told ports to seize the items because they could be dangerous for kids under 3. In 2025, Chinese officials shut down fake markets in Shenzhen and took more than 200,000 fake dolls. People have complained about bad products that are sold in underground markets, and Pop Mart has been forced to take strong action to protect its intellectual property.
A Soft Power Win for China
Pop Mart has done well because of Labubu’s success. In the first half of 2025, the company made $1.9 billion, with Labubu alone bringing in $423 million, which is 729% more than in 2023. The company’s market cap of $43.28 billion is now higher than the combined market caps of Mattel, Hasbro, and Sanrio. Wang Ning, the company’s founder, became China’s 10th richest person at the age of 38, with a net worth of $22.7 billion. This was because Labubu was popular all over the world.
Chinese officials have praised Labubu as a symbol of “Created in China,” which combines manufacturing skill with creative ideas. People’s Daily and Xinhua, two state-run newspapers, praised the dolls for boosting China’s soft power by showing off cultural creativity on a global stage, along with successes like the video game Black Myth: Wukong.
Why Labubu? The Crazy’s Psychology
The Labubu phenomenon is based on a mix of nostalgia, rarity, and self-expression. The blind box model makes people hunt for rare figures, and the dolls’ strange designs let people escape from the complexities of being an adult. Gozde Goncu Berk, a design scholar, says that these trends show that people want to go back to the simple things of childhood in a world full of consumerism and AI-driven mass production. Labubu can also be used as a bag charm, which lets owners make luxury items their own, which is in line with the “Jane Birkin-ify” trend that has been going on at fashion weeks from Copenhagen to Milan.
But just like with all viral trends, Labubu’s popularity might not last. Some early adopters, like fashion designer Alice Brightmore, have already moved on because they feel they have seen too much. Still, Pop Mart is going all out with new series like Pin for Love and partnerships with brands like Coca-Cola and One Piece to make sure Labubu stays a part of pop culture.
Where to Look for Labubu
Getting a Labubu doll is not easy. Pop Mart’s official stores and “roboshops” in more than 30 countries often sell out in just a few minutes. In India, approved stores like labubu.com.in sell real dolls for prices starting at ₹2,200. Walmart’s third-party marketplace via StockX lists dolls for prices between $67 and $300 (non-refundable). Sites like eBay and StockX that let you sell things again are more expensive, but they have rare editions. Lafufus are dangerous. To avoid fakes, look for Pop Mart’s authentication markers.
In the end, a mischievous legacy
Labubu dolls are more than just toys; they’re a worldwide trend in pop culture. These naughty elves have won hearts, started arguments, and changed the way people think about collectibles. They started as characters in Nordic fairy tales and are now fashion icons backed by celebrities. You can’t help but notice Labubu’s toothy grin, whether you think it’s cute, creepy, or a little of both. The world is waiting to see what this strange creature will do next as Pop Mart keeps coming up with new ideas and growing.
