If you’ve been doomscrolling TikTok or Instagram and spotted toothy, gremlin-looking plushies dangling from celebrity bags like cursed keychains, you’re not alone in wondering what’s going on.
Labubu — that’s the name of this bizarre little creature — has exploded into a global phenomenon in 2025, blending cute with creepy in a way that’s got K-pop idols and collectors losing their minds. It’s ugly as sin, but it’s racking up hundreds of millions in sales, sparking chaos at toy stores, and even inspiring burglaries.
If you’re clueless about this trend, buckle up — here’s the primer you didn’t know you needed.
Here’s the TL;DR
- What it is: Plush collectible toy, part monster, part elf, with pointy ears and a toothy grin.
- Origin: Created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung in 2015, inspired by Nordic folklore, and sold by Pop Mart.
- Why popular: Celebrity endorsements (Lisa from Blackpink, Rihanna, Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian), blind box hype, ugly-cute aesthetic fueling social media buzz.
- Knockoffs: Fake “Lafufu” dolls flood the market — spot fakes by counting teeth or checking holograms.
- Pricing: $9–$30 retail; rare editions resell for hundreds or even $170,000.
- Celeb fans: Lisa, Rihanna, Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, David Beckham, Simone Biles, and more.
What Exactly Is This Ugly Little Freak?
Labubu looks like it crawled out of a fever dream — a collectible plush toy, often a keychain or bag charm, with a vinyl face, big pointy ears, wide eyes, and a mischievous grin showing exactly nine jagged teeth (six on top, three on bottom).
Part of The Monsters series, these zoomorphic elves come in hundreds of styles, from macaron-themed to anime crossovers. They’re marketed to adult collectors as much as kids, leaning hard into the “ugly-cute” aesthetic — think kawaii meets gremlin — making them stand out in a sea of curated Instagram perfection.
Where Did Labubu Come From?
Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, who moved to the Netherlands at age 7, created Labubu in 2015 for his children’s book series The Monsters, inspired by Nordic folklore’s elves and trolls.
In 2019, Chinese toy giant Pop Mart partnered with Lung, turning Labubu into a blind box sensation. Buyers don’t know which variant they’ll get, which fuels the “thrill of the hunt” that’s propelled it into a full-blown global craze. By 2025, Pop Mart had over 500 stores and 2,000 vending machines worldwide.
Why the Heck Is Labubu So Popular in 2025?
Labubu’s big break came in April 2024, when Lisa from Blackpink posted Instagram pics with a Labubu clipped to her purse. Fans went wild.
- Queues formed for hours.
- Online drops sold out in minutes.
- Pop Mart’s profits jumped 350% in the first half of 2025.
Labubu generated $418 million in sales alone. It’s basically Beanie Babies for Gen Z — only with TikTok unboxings, nostalgia bait, and celebrity clout driving the hype.
In August 2025, masked thieves even stole $7,000 worth of Labubus from a California store, proving the craze’s intensity.
The Dark Side: Knockoffs and Fakes
Big hype means big bootleg business. Counterfeits — often dubbed “Lafufu” — mimic the real thing but cut corners:
- Wrong vinyl color (real Labubu faces are pale peach, not neon orange).
- Bad stitching.
- Wrong teeth count (authentic has nine: six top, three bottom).
Look for Pop Mart’s holographic sticker or QR code you can verify online. In 2025, Chinese customs seized over 70,000 counterfeit Labubus, and the Better Business Bureau logged scam site complaints.
How Much Does a Labubu Cost?
Retail:
- Blind boxes: $8.99–$27.99
- Larger plush: $40–$85
Special Editions:
- Collaborations (Coca-Cola, One Piece) can reach $167+.
Resale:
- Rare variants: $450–$2,000
- A mint-green life-size doll sold for $170,000 at a Beijing auction in 2025.
Celebrities Who Can’t Get Enough
Labubu’s celebrity roster reads like a red carpet:
- K-pop & Pop: Lisa and Rosé (Blackpink), Dua Lipa, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Bretman Rock
- Hollywood: Kim Kardashian, Olivia Attwood
- Sports: David Beckham, Simone Biles
- Bollywood: Sharvari, Twinkle Khanna, Ananya Panday
- Asia: Thai actor Mario Maurer
These A-listers turned Labubu into a must-have accessory, fueling the “status toy” effect.
People Also Ask
- What is a Labubu doll? A collectible plush toy created by Kasing Lung, sold by Pop Mart in blind boxes.
- Why are they so expensive? Limited runs, high demand, and rarity drive up resale prices.
- How to spot a fake? Count the teeth, check the face color, verify holograms/QR codes.
- Which celebrities own them? See above — it’s a star-studded list.
- Why so popular in 2025? Social media virality, celeb endorsements, blind box hype, affordable luxury.
- Any controversies? Reports of “cursed” vibes, environmental concerns over mass production, and thefts.
Sources
- CNBC
- Demandsage
- Economic Times
- TonySourcing
- ProtoThema
- VPM
- ABA Journal
- The Week
- BBC
- ABC News
- Filmfare
- People
- TMZ
News compiled by Ivy Adams for Pirates & Princesses.
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