Labubu was created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung (龙家昇) as part of his Nordic-inspired “Monsters” story series. Lung grew up in the Netherlands and drew on European fairy-tale and elf folklore to design Labubu’s distinctive look. The character first appeared in Lung’s artwork around 2015, but remained a niche art-toy concept until a licensing deal with the Chinese blind-box company Pop Mart in 2019. Pop Mart then began producing Labubu figurines and plushes, transforming Lung’s illustrations into mass-market collectibles. (Lung had sketched these characters in children’s books and illustration work before they became Pop Mart toys.) As Lung has noted, Labubu was always mischievous but kind-hearted – a “small monster” with pointed ears and serrated teeth who tries to help despite causing chaos.
Product Releases & Design Evolution
Labubu toys have been released in many forms over time. In 2015–2016, the character first debuted in How2Work’s collectible “Monsters” series (vinyl figures and storybooks). Major milestones include:
- 2019: Kasing Lung signs an exclusive license with Pop Mart, which launches the first official Labubu blind-box releases. Pop Mart begins producing Labubu figures (vinyl and plush) for China’s market.
- 2022: Pop Mart issues labubu-themed series like “Time to Chill” (Oct 2022) to growing fan interest. (By this time, Labubu figures were selling out minutes after restock.)
- 2023: Pop Mart expands Labubu into plush keychain charms. In October 2023 it released the “Tasty Macarons” (心动马卡龙) vinyl-face series (also called “Exciting Macaron”) featuring dessert-colored Labubu bag charms. (This was a new “vinyl face” line where Labubu’s vinyl mask is atop a soft plush body.) Later in 2023, Jump For Joy (May) and Dress Be Latte (Oct) plush editions came out as part of core collections.
- 2024: Pop Mart continued with themed Labubu series. In July 2024 it launched the “Have a Seat” vinyl-plush line (V2) with seated Labubu charms. That year also saw seasonal and cross-character releases (e.g. Halloween “Magic of Pumpkin” Labubu, etc. from The Monsters series). According to reports, the medium-size plush Labubus – often sold as blind-box bag charms – have been the most popular, with each new themed series drawing tens of thousands of shoppers.
- 2025: In April 2025 Pop Mart launched the “Big Into Energy” series (V3) of Labubu vinyl-plush charms. (A “Let's Checkmate” series followed in early 2025 as well.) Also in June 2025, Pop Mart held the first official Labubu auction in Beijing – a 131 cm (4.3-ft) Labubu sculpture sold for ¥1.08M (~$150K), setting a record. By mid-2025, Pop Mart had issued over 300 different Labubu figures, ranging from small blind-box charms to giant “mega” editions.
Labubu’s design has evolved but retains core features: a round, furry body, rabbit-like pointy ears, wide eyes and nine sharp teeth forming a mischievous grin. Variations include different facial expressions, colors and costumes, but the “ugly-cute” look remains consistent. (The blind-box format adds rarity: each series includes at least one ultra-rare “secret” Labubu variant that collectors scramble to find.)
Labubu plush figures are popular as bag charms and fashion accessories. For example, Pop Mart has promoted Labubu at fashion events (above, two Labubu keychains adorn a designer handbag).
Limited Editions and Collaborations
Pop Mart has released numerous special-edition Labubus and brand collaborations. For example, in late 2024 Pop Mart introduced The Monsters – Coca-Cola Series vinyl blind-boxes: Labubu and friends in ski-adventure outfits under a Coca-Cola theme. In early 2025 it launched a The Monsters × One Piece crossover: 13 blind-box figures where Labubu characters were reimagined as One Piece manga figures. Other exclusives include museum and retail tie-ins: Pop Mart sold a “Labubu’s Artistic Quest” series only at its Louvre museum store in Paris. Globally, Pop Mart has partnered with artists and retailers, such as a “Street Elf” Labubu series designed by a New York graffiti artist and a London-only Hamleys toy-store edition. (TechNode notes Pop Mart plans tie-ups with Disney and Universal as well, though specific figures have yet to be announced.) These limited drops – often in tiny production runs – add to Labubu’s collectible appeal and frequently sell out immediately.
Popularity and Cultural Impact
Labubu has become a viral sensation, especially in East and Southeast Asia, but is also spreading worldwide. The craze accelerated in 2024 when K-pop star Lisa (of Blackpink) was seen with Labubu toys (a giant plush and a keychain) on social media. Lisa’s endorsement triggered a fandom frenzy: within weeks Labubu was everywhere in Thailand (fans even flew to China to buy them), and Asian celebrities and fashionistas began collecting Labubu. (For instance, in the Philippines celebrities like Vice Ganda and Heart Evangelista proudly showed off Labubus.) Retailers saw chaotic scenes: news reports described customers literally brawling and “cutting in line” for each new Pop Mart Labubu drop. In Singapore and Hong Kong, limited figures resell for thousands of dollars, and local authorities have even warned about Labubu-related scams. In July 2024 a life-sized Labubu mascot toured Bangkok’s landmarks as part of a Thai tourism campaign, underscoring the toy’s pop-culture status in Thailand.
Labubu’s appeal has also reached the West. Pop Mart has opened Pop‑Ups in Los Angeles and London and collaborated with Western brands. U.S. celebrities like Rihanna and Dua Lipa have been spotted carrying Labubu charms, and British footballer David Beckham even showcased a Labubu on his bag. Streetwear and designer communities note that Labubu, like Jellycat or Sanrio characters, blurs the line between toy and fashion charm. Forbes and Reuters both report that #Labubu has exploded on TikTok, with millions of hashtag views as influencers and fans worldwide unbox and display their Labubu collections. TechNode sums up Labubu’s reach: it “spans from China to Europe and from the US to Southeast Asia,” symbolizing Chinese pop culture’s growing global influence.
Enthusiasts queue at Pop Mart stores to buy Labubu releases. The craze for these blind-box toys has led to long lines and chaotic launches worldwide.
Collector Market and Resale Trends
Labubu’s collectibility has driven wild secondary-market prices. By official pricing, most blind-box Labubu figures sell for ¥50–¥200 (roughly US$7–$30) per box, depending on size. Larger plush dolls (about 15 inches tall) retail around ¥600 (∼$85). However, scarcity fuels resellers: on eBay and resale platforms, rare Labubus routinely go for thousands of dollars. Forbes reported some fans listing limited editions for up to $7,000 (e.g. a Vans collaboration piece), and StockX sales of special Labubu figures (like “Happy Halloween” editions) have fetched over $3,000. Even entry-level Labubus can spike above retail when in high demand, prompting one investor to call it the new “Stanley Cup” craze.
The collector market hit new highs at official auctions. In June 2025, a 4.3-foot Labubu statue sold for ¥1.08 million (about $150,000), setting a record price for any blind-box toy. (Reuters notes this was Labubu’s first dedicated auction.) In contrast, older or more common Labubu editions have sometimes been offloaded by collectors at a loss as hype shifts. Counterfeits are also rampant: bootleg Labubu knock-offs (derisively called “Lafufus”) flood Asian markets and online shops, sometimes sparking interest for their bizarre designs.
Collectors remain divided on the trend’s longevity, but for now Labubu continues to sell out rapidly. Pop Mart even reported that Labubu sales helped crash its online store during drops, and the brand’s interim report showed the “Monsters” line grossed RMB 6.3 billion (∼$870 million) in just the first half of 2024. In sum, Labubu has transformed from an obscure art toy into a global phenomenon – its pointy-eared grin proving as marketable as it is endearing.
Sources: Verified information from Pop Mart and media reports (The New York Times, Reuters, Business Insider, Forbes, CNA, etc.) are cited above. All details are drawn from these connected sources, unless otherwise noted.