Labubu

Labubu is a brand of plush toys created by Hong Kong designer Kasing Lung and marketed by Pop Mart.^[1][2][3]

History

Labubu is a character designed by Kasing Lung, a Hong Kong–born artist raised in the Netherlands.

According to CNA Lifestyle (2024), Lung initially sketched his designs with a pen. His love for fairy tales eventually led him to paint Labubu and its friends.^[2]

Labubu was first introduced in 2015^[3] and gained wider recognition in 2019 following a collaboration with Pop Mart.^[1][4]

This partnership boosted Labubu's popularity among collectors. Labubu dolls have since been produced in various colors, shapes, and sizes, ranging from plush toys to vinyl figures.^[2]

Inspiration

Lung created the story series The Monsters, which was influenced by Nordic folklore^[5] and mythology that he enjoyed during his childhood.^[3]

Design

Labubus are described as having a playful yet slightly fierce look. It features a round, furry body, wide eyes, pointed ears,^[6] and a set of sharp teeth that form a mischievous smile.^[2][5] The tribe includes Zimomo, Tycoco, Spooky, Pato, and Labubu.^[7][4]

Recognition

The toy gained widespread attention in April 2024 after Blackpink's Lisa was spotted with it,^[1] both as a plush toy^[8] and as a keychain on her bag. This sparked a trend that quickly contributed to its growing recognition in Thailand and other parts of Southeast and East Asia.^[2] In addition, Labubu's popular series, featuring a blind box format with hidden or mystery figures, introduces an element of surprise that appeals to the excitement of uncertainty, often sparking a gambling-like thrill among collectors.

Pop Mart's 2024 interim report, released on August 20, revealed that "The Monsters" line generated sales of 6.3 billion Chinese yuan (approximately US$87 million) in the first half of the year.^[6]