Meet Labubu: The Mischievous Toy Taking Over My Life and Social Media

The Monster by Artist Kasing Lung

Who (or What) Is Labubu?

What’s a Labubu, you ask? Let me introduce you to the cheeky little character who has totally stolen my heart and the hearts of collectors around the world.

Labubu is a character created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, who’s also known for his work as a children’s book illustrator and author. Back in 2015, Lung published a trilogy called The Monsters, inspired by Nordic fairy tales, and inside that world, Labubu was born.

My Labubu Collection

The Monsters series features several characters, including Zimomo, the leader of the Labubu tribe and essentially a boy version of Labubu. Zimomo is larger and identified by its tail. Then there is Tycoco, Spooky, Pato, and, of course, Labubu herself.

Labubu is a mischievous little forest creature with big twinkly eyes, wild fuzzy hair, and a toothy grin that’s equal parts spooky and adorable. She looks like a goblin-elf hybrid, always up to no good, and that’s exactly why people are obsessed with her. She’s cute, she’s chaotic, and she’s become a total pop culture darling.

CRYBABY and Labubu for your purse

Why Is Labubu So Popular? What’s All the Hype About?

The hype around Labubu has exploded in recent years, especially in the designer toy and streetwear scenes. What started as a collectible figure has turned into something much bigger. Labubu is now considered a cult icon, showing up on luxury fashion accessories and even inspiring major celebrity fans.

Celebrities like Rihanna have been spotted with a Labubu bag charm hanging from their designer bags. Lisa from BLACKPINK has openly shared her love for Labubu, and her enthusiasm has fueled even more attention and popularity.

My Very Special Labubu (Zimomo)

As a content creator, I literally couldn’t escape Labubu. She was all over my social media feed! I fell in love with her first because of her fashion accessory fame, but then… the collecting bug bit me hard.

There are over 30 series of Labubu figures, each with six color variations. That adds up to more than 300 Labubus you can hunt down, each with different furs, eye colors, and themes. Some Labubus come dressed in limited-edition outfits, and some collectors even personalize and dress up their own figures to make them extra unique.

Labubu at PopMart in Korea

Where Can You Get a Labubu?

Here’s where the fun, and maybe a little frustration,  begins: Labubu figures are typically sold in blind boxes, meaning you have no idea which design you’ll get until you open it. Rare “secret” editions drive up demand and make some Labubus especially valuable on the resale market.

In South Korea, you can find Labubu figures at Pop Mart stores, both in person and online. Starfield Malls often have Pop Mart locations, though not all. My favorite store is the Pop Mart store at Starfield Mall in Anseong. If you want to stay on top of new releases, check out their Instagram at @popmart_korea, that’s where I get most of my updates.

Added to my collection is 'The Monsters Almost Hidden' figurine collection. My first Labubu figurine collection.

Offline Plushie Pause: Labubu Fans Feel the Impact of The June 16, 2025 Announcement

Earlier this week, it was announced that offline sales of Labubu plush dolls and plushie keychains would be temporarily suspended in Korea (read more here).

The recent suspension of Labubu’s offline sales in Korea, covering the plush dolls and adorable plushie keychains, has felt like a real blow. I can still hunt down the monster collectible figurines in stores, but without those soft, huggable pieces, the experience just isn’t the same.

For me, the magic has always been in that moment of discovering a new plushie on the shelf, feeling its texture, imagining where it’ll go in my collection before I even open the blind box. It’s more than shopping, it’s an emotional connection. I get why they’ve paused those items, and I’m holding onto hope that this is just a temporary setback. I can’t wait for the day when full Labubu shelves return, plushies, keychains and all, and I can dive back into that joyful, tactile thrill once more.

Hanging Around with Labubu

Labubu’s Big Money Moment

Turns out, I’m not the only one who fell head over heels for this cheeky little gremlin. In 2024, Pop Mart pulled in a jaw-dropping $1.79 billion USD in sales, more than doubling what they made the year before. Their profits shot up, leaving analysts in the dust. Proof that even in the age of TikTok trends and digital everything, a tiny, toothy troublemaker in a blind box can still steal the show—and the market.

Pop Mart’s global presence, slick marketing, and fun in-store experiences have helped push Labubu into the spotlight, right alongside other hit collectibles like Molly, Cry Baby, Dimoo, Skull Panda, and more. Just this month, a human-sized Labubu figure sold for over $150,000 at a Beijing auction (Reuters article here)—a clear sign that collectors are willing to pay big for a piece of the Labubu magic.

Labubu in the Wild

Final Thoughts: Why Labubu Captured My Heart

In the end, Labubu represents the perfect mix of artistic design, fashion flair, and pop culture magic — no wonder she’s become such a standout in the booming designer toy world.

Whether you’re a die-hard collector, a fashion lover, or just someone curious about the latest hype, Labubu’s charm is hard to resist. But be warned… once you open that first blind box, you might find yourself falling down the Labubu rabbit hole — just like I did!

Labubu Unboxed: Watch the Magic Happen

Want to see the excitement of discovering a new Labubu up close? Check out my unboxing videos where I reveal the latest additions to my collection, share first impressions, and maybe even pull a rare surprise! Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just Labubu-curious, these videos capture all the charm (and chaos) that comes with opening a blind box.

My First Labubu Unboxing

Unboxing the "Big Into Energy" Labubu Series!