They’re small, they’re big, they’re fluffy, they’re on someone’s keychain within a 50-foot radius.
They’re Labubus.
Labubus, created by Hong-Kong based artist Kasing Lung, have skyrocketed to the center of people’s feeds in the past two years with celebrities like LeBron James, Rihanna, LISA from Blackpink, and Kim Kardashian sporting them as bag charms. But, what is a Labubu?
Lung created Labubus as part of his picture-book series “The Monsters” in 2015. Based on Nordic mythology, the Labubu is a small creature with jagged teeth, pointed ears, and a mischievous smile. The Labubu is “kind-hearted and always wants to help, but often accidentally achieves the opposite,” according to Pop Mart’s product description of the collectibles.
Sophomore Maggie Shefcheck said that Labubus are an interesting figurine. “I feel like they’re kind of cool, but they’re also very scary, and I’ve heard that they’re demonic,” she said.
Pop Mart, a Beijing-based toy company founded in 2010, partnered with Lung in 2019 to produce Labubus collectibles. The company produces the toy in a “blind box” format meaning that consumers don’t know which collectible they have purchased until they open the box. Pop Mart also produces other collectibles from franchises such as Disney and Harry Potter.
The Labubu hit the market with an ugly-cute factor and sells for a whopping $27.99. However, “On eBay, a rare secret Chestnut Cocoa Labubu can fetch over $149,” according to a National Public Radio story on the toy. In fact, the demand for these toys has caused counterfeit look-a-likes called “Lafufus” to appear on the market.
Shefcheck said she’d accept a Labubu as a gift. “I would definitely cherish it and put it on my backpack, but I would never buy one,” she said.
Junior Ollie Karlowicz said that she wants a Labubu. “I think they’re charming, I just think that it would be a really cute little accessory for my bag. I want a pink one,” she said.
According to the BBC, Pop Mart’s profits have tripled in the last year on the strength of Labubu love. The company started selling stock in December 2020, and its shares have grown more than 500 percent in 2025. Labubus are verging on becoming a billion-dollar business.
Senior Hannah Smilovich said that the Labubu trend shows the influence of online culture in everyday life. “I think they’re a global sensation that tells you how much social media can influence consumer behaviors,” Smilovich said.
Said Smilovich, “Everyone should have a Labubu.”
