Labubu
| Type | Plush toy |
|---|---|
| Invented by | Kasing Lung (龍家昇) |
| Company | How2Work (2015–2019)[1] Pop Mart (2019–present) |
Labubu (Chinese: 拉布布) is a brand of collectible plush toy monster elves created by Hong Kong designer Kasing Lung (Chinese: 龍家昇[2]) and marketed by and sold exclusively at China-based retailer Pop Mart.[3][4][5][6] Labubu is also the name of the main character in the series.
History
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Labubu began as a character designed by Kasing Lung (1972–[1]), a Hong Kong–born artist raised in the Netherlands. Labubu was part of Lung's story series The Monsters, which was influenced by Nordic folklore[7][8] and mythology that he enjoyed during his childhood.[5]
Labubu was first introduced in 2015[5] with "Monsters" figurines produced by the company How2Work;[1] the toy gained wider recognition in 2019 following a collaboration with Pop Mart.[3][9] This partnership boosted Labubu's popularity among collectors.
Design
[edit]Labubus are described as having a playful yet slightly fierce look, featuring round, furry bodies, wide eyes, pointed ears,[10] and nine sharp teeth that form a mischievous smile.[4][8] Aside from Labubu herself, other figures also belong to a "tribe" called "The Monsters", including the characters Mokoko, Pato, Spooky, Tycoco (Labubu's "skeleton-looking" boyfriend),[11] and Zimomo (the leader of the Monsters, with a spiked tail).[12][9][6] The dolls have been produced with a variety of appearances.[4][6][13]
Labubu figures are often sold in blind boxes, collected into themed lines, which contain a toy chosen at random from that series.[14] Series often contain a rare "secret" figure in addition to the designs advertised.[15]
The first Labubu key-ring line, titled "Exciting Macaron" (Chinese: 心动马卡龙), was released in October 2023.[6] Other collections include "Fall in Wild", the seven-figurine "Have a Seat" (Chinese: 坐坐派对) line,[15] and "Big into Energy" (Chinese: 前方高能系列).[6]
Pop Mart has also collaborated with various brands, producing a Coca-Cola-themed winter blind box series of eleven Labubus in late 2024[16] and a 13-figurine line of The Monsters re-imagined as characters from the manga and anime One Piece in early 2025.[17] Other figures have been released exclusively at various museums,[15] such as the "Labubu's Artistic Quest" series sold at Pop Mart's store at the Louvre in Paris.[18]
Reception
[edit]The toy gained widespread attention in April 2024 after K-pop group Blackpink member Lisa was spotted with a keychain Labubu on her bag.[3][19] This sparked a trend that quickly contributed to its growing recognition in Thailand and other parts of Southeast and East Asia.[4]
Pop Mart's 2024 interim report, released on August 20, stated that the line generated sales of 6.3 billion Chinese yuan (approximately US$870 million) in the first half of the year.[10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Kasing Lung Biography". Kaikai Kiki Gallery. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ^ "Lot 311: 龍家昇 Kasing Lung(Hong Kong)". Invaluable. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ^ a b c Cheung, Adam. (2025-04-30). ""I was told they were sold out. I wanted one immediately": Why countless guys are obsessed with those weird and wild Labubu dolls". British GQ. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ a b c d Tabiolo, Jewil Anne M. (2024-10-19). "All You Need to Know:Labubu 'hottest collectible' right now". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ a b c Fernando, Jeff (2024-10-23). "Labubu mania sweeps the Philippines: Celebrities can't get enough of these whimsical toys". Daily Tribune. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ a b c d e Haridasani Gupta, Alisha (2025-04-27). "How These Little Elves Turned Into a Global Sensation". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ Sukri, Hazeeq (26 September 2024). "4 things to know about Labubu, the popular Pop Mart figure with fans including Blackpink's Lisa". CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ^ a b Surbano, Eric E. (2024-09-21). "Decoding the Labubu hype from its origins to creator and celebrity endorsements". Prestige Online - Malaysia. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ a b Bargeron, Sadie. "Blackpink's Lisa's favorite Pop Mart toy Labubu causes global mania | Jing Daily". jingdaily.com. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ a b Bharade, Aditi; Liam, Erin (2024-11-15). "A fluffy, $85 toy is taking Asia by storm and sparking legions of knockoffs. Inside the meteoric rise of Labubu". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ Rodriguez, Rebecca (2025-05-22). "What is Labubu? Why is she so popular? We have answers". NBC News. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ Zachariah, Natasha Ann (2024-11-14). "Going ga-ga over Labubu: The toy that has fans fighting, faking and stealing it". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ Maruf, Ramishah (2025-05-17). "This gremlin-looking toy from China is proving to be tariff-proof". CNN. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ Maguire, Lucy (30 April 2025). "Labubus, Jellycats and Crybaby: Why are toys going viral in 2025?". Vogue Business. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ^ a b c Bell, Crystal (2025-05-22). "The cult and community of Labubu". Mashable. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ^ James, Jesse (2024-12-09). "POP MART and Coca-Cola Unite for THE MONSTERS Collection: A Must-Have for Collectors". Stupid Dope. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ Muliani, Johanna (2025-03-10). "How to purchase the Monsters x "One Piece" and Labubu collection in Singapore". Prestige. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ "POP MART: Unveiling an Innovative Retail Experience at the Louvre". Pop Mart. 2024-07-30. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ^ Chang, Andrea (2024-11-05). "Overnight lines, mall fights and instant sellouts: Labubu toy mania comes to America". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-11-19.