21 April 2025
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Would you believe us if we said that people are queuing overnight to get their hands on a Labubu? PopMart sells out of these rabbit-like flurry keychain dolls so quickly that they only release a small amount sporadically on their TikTok shop.
What is a Labubu?
Simply put a Labubu is a fluffy monster doll which seems to have taken over the toy collecting world. The characters, known as ‘The Monsters’, were designed by the Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung; with a Labubu is described as a small elf like monster that has long pointy ears, a row of sharp teeth and a mischievous grin. The monster is a product of Lungs' imagination and is influenced by Nordic folklore.
The popular critters come in an array of colours, variations, and series collections, all of which are limited edition and often in mystery box packaging. As a result of their popularity with celebrities and toy collectors alike, outfits and accessories to customise Labubus have also become sort after.
credit: https://www.popmart.com/gb
Why are Labubu's so popular?
‘The Monsters’ are taking pop culture by storm and were first made into figures by Hong Kong-based production house How2Work, since then, they have been released in more than 300 colours, shapes and sizes. Pop Mart then entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Lung in 2019.
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The main rise in popularity of the quirky characters was when Blackpink’s Lisa posted about them on social media in April this year. Whereby in the post, she used ‘The Monsters’ fall wild series as a bag charm. This then sparked a huge buying frenzy in Thailand, including Thai Royal family!
In the UK, Olivia Attwood, a TV reality star, has started her collection. She has pictured the monster handing off her Hermes Birkin and has shared several videos searching for the Labubu blind boxes on social media to her 2.4 million Instagram followers.
Where can I buy a Labubu?
One of the easiest ways to purchase a Labubu is to follow Pop Mart on TikTok and watch their TikTok lives. The host will let you know what time they are releasing the monsters, which will help you prepare to secure your Labubu. You’ll need to be quick as they sell out fast, with the recent release selling out within 10 seconds.
The monsters are also sold on Amazon, the PopMart website, selected dolls from Pop Mart stores, and some of the most exclusive stores on Oxford Street, such as Harrods.
How much do Labubu cost?
The price of the Labubu dolls depends on their rarity and size.
On the Pop Mart UK website, the blind box editions like the ‘ Have a Seat Vinyl Plush Blind Box’ will set you back £17.50 if you can grab one while it is in stock. The 'Coca-Cola series-Vinyl Face Blind Box’ will set you back £25.50.
However, like most collectable items, there is a resale market, especially for those Labubu collections that are more exclusive. As such, some collectors have paid upwards of £100 to get their hands on specific Labubu dolls.
So, what is all the Labubu hype about?
One buyer said, ‘It's the obsession of being surprised by what you're going to get; it's so addictive.’ The blind box aspect of these collectables seems to be what is drawing people in. The blind box format means that there are six in a collection. One could be a ‘rare’ limited edition, which keeps people making repeat purchases.
Also, not to mention the fact that you can buy outfits for your Labubu and dress up your monsters, creating the perfect little ‘mini me’. They also play with a fine line of being ugly and cute, which is what draws people in.
Are they worth the hype?
Ultimately, the seemingly ‘exclusiveness’ of the Labubu monsters, the thrill of the mystery box and the desire to collect and own them all is causing the hype. Is it worth £17.50? If you have the spare money to spend, we would say yes!