Everyone’s got it—the It girls, Gen Zs, Millennials, K-pop idols, even Gen Xers–quite literally everyone with a bag has one of these things hanging on them.
We’ve seen celebrities proudly show their “Labubu” collection, TikTok videos showcasing hauls, blind boxes, and unboxings, and people reselling them for an insanely higher price. Strictly speaking, these “Labubu” are the newest anik-anik (knickknacks) craze that has almost everyone in a chokehold.
So, what’s the backstory of this beloved ‘monster-thing-anik anik’ that everyone seems to love?
Labubu character origins
Labubu is an elf character created by Hong Kong-born, Belgium-based artist Kasing Lung back in 2015 when he published “The Monsters” story series. “The Monsters” is a group of stories and characters inspired by European fairy tales and Nordic mythology.
This character is a “she,” and is very recognizable for her pointy ears, sharp teeth that poke out of her mouth, small height, and mischievous smile. The Pop Mart website describes her as “mischievous but kind-hearted, always wanting to help though sometimes inadvertently doing bad things.”
Labubu and the rest of the characters from “The Monsters”—Zimomo, Spooky, Tycoco, and Pato are being sold as toys and collectibles by Chinese blind box maker Pop Mart.
How did “Labubu” become so popular?
One answer: Lisa Manobal.
The globally renowned Thai K-pop idol was seen holding Labubu dolls (one huge, one tiny) on separate occasions back in Thailand last April. Rosé, her bandmate, was also seen clutching one of these Labubu dolls in her Instagram story.
The most viral Labubu collection by Pop Mart was the “Exciting Macaron,” where Labubu was seen sporting different pastel-colored onesies. She is usually sold out at Pop Mart stores.
How much do these Labubu collectibles cost?
According to the Pop Mart website, prices for Labubu range from PHP900 to P51,000, which are all depending on the doll’s size.
Labubu is just one of the many toys and collectibles that everyone has been loving and hoarding. We can call this a resurgence or comeback of the collectible trend from the 90s.
Well, it’s probably all of us just trying to reclaim our childhoods. And, everyone doesn’t have to collect just Labubus—there are many more cute and quirky collectible collections out there!
There’s one for everyone, really. Smiskis, Sonny Angels, Mofusand, Dimoo, Minico, Molly, and more.
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