While scrolling down social media feeds, it has become a common phenomenon to come across a post that has something to do with the Labubu doll. A wide-eyed furry doll with pointy ears, sharp teeth and a mischievous grin- Labubu may not look like the typical doll, yet it has become one of the most desired designer dolls across the world.
From Shanghai to London to Dhaka, the Labubu doll has gained fans all around. Blending folklore, pop culture, and savvy marketing, Labubu is not just a toy; it's a global obsession.
Adding to the intrigue surrounding the doll is that a human-sized one was sold for a record $150,000 in a Beijing auction in June. The 131 cm (4 ft 4 in) figurine was sold at the Yongle International Auction in Beijing, the BBC reported. According to the auctioneer, it was the most expensive toy of its kind in the world.
What is this Labubu doll?
Labubu was first introduced in 2015 with "Monsters" figurines, produced by the company How2Work. Kasing Lung, a Hong Kong-born artist raised in the Netherlands and now based in Belgium, introduced Labubu in his picture book series The Monsters.
Inspired by Nordic myths and traditional elf-like creatures, Labubu was designed to be "a little monster with a kind heart and mischievous spirit". It features large, rounded eyes, a wide, toothy grin with nine visible teeth, and often sports a scruffy, furry body. The whole idea of Labubu was a reflection of his childhood, Nordic folklore and mythology that he enjoyed back then.
Lung's initial intention wasn't mass commercialisation. Labubu was a character in a dark yet whimsical universe, often misunderstood but never malicious. But that changed when Pop Mart, a Chinese art-toy company, spotted its potential.
The Pop Mart effect
In 2019, Pop Mart entered a licensing partnership with Lung and began producing Labubu as part of its blind-box collectable toy line. These blind boxes—sealed packages where buyers don't know which version of the toy they will get—created a frenzy among consumers, who began chasing after rare variants and limited editions.
Labubu became a breakout star. Unlike traditional cute characters like Hello Kitty or My Little Pony, Labubu's appeal lay in its "ugly-cute" design—creepy but charming, unsettling yet oddly endearing.
Rise to fame
The real viral moment came in 2024 when South Korean girl group BLACKPINK's Lisa was spotted with a Labubu keychain, sparking a frenzy across Asia and beyond. TikTok, Instagram, and Xiaohongshu spotlighted unboxing videos and fan collections, highlighting Labubu's appeal among "kidults" - adults collecting toys.
Labubu has a long line of celebrities behind it. In February, Rihanna was photographed with a Labubu toy clipped to her bag. In April, Kim Kardashian shared her collection of 10 Labubu dolls on her Instagram. And in May, David Beckham shared a photo on his Instagram profile showing his daughter presenting a Labubu doll to him.
Labubu's commercial impact
In December 2020, Labubus's sales fuelled Pop Mart's growth as it began to sell its shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Those shares have soared by more than 500% in the last year.
Pop Mart itself has now become a major retailer. Labubu dolls are easy to find in stores, physical or virtual, in more than 30 countries, from the US and the UK to Australia and Singapore, although many of them have recently paused sales due to overwhelming demand. Sales from outside mainland China contributed to nearly 40% of its total revenue in 2024.
Controversy and criticism
With fame comes backlash. Labubu has not escaped criticism and controversy. Critics in countries like Russia and Ireland have argued that Labubu's sharp teeth and "demonic" look could psychologically disturb children. Some conservative voices have even called for bans, suggesting the doll may normalise monsters for children, reports The Sun Ireland.
Also, the toy's popularity has sparked a flood of counterfeit Labubu dolls—often labelled as Lafufu—circulating in markets from Southeast Asia to Europe.
Emblem of shifting aesthetics
What makes Labubu's story remarkable is how it bridges art, commerce, and subculture. It resonates with collectors not just because of its rarity, but because it evokes emotional contradictions—ugly but lovable, spooky yet gentle.
Labubu is also a symbol of shifting cultural aesthetics. In an age of curated cuteness and filtered perfection, Labubu's rough edges, asymmetry, and unpredictability offer something different: authenticity and individuality.
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