Recently, the charm of Labubu has emerged on social media, with users showcasing their Labubu keychain plushes, adorned with nine teeth and a fuzzy monster design, as accessories on purses or backpacks. As trends in fandom and fashion evolve, personalizing daily carry-ons with charms has gained popularity, with Pop Mart’s collaboration with Kasing Lung on The Monsters being particularly trendy. These items feature whimsical Labubu elven characters inspired by Nordic mythology.
The creator and picture book artist Kasing Lung drew inspiration from enchanted forest elves found in Nordic mythology for his Labubu characters. This creator got drawn to the toy collector space and intrigued by Pop Mart’s collaborations with Disney. The appeal stems from a blend of Henson Creature shop aesthetics and vibes reminiscent of Where the Wild Things Are and Donnie Darko‘s Frank the Bunny.
Labubu evokes a nostalgia for childhood make-believe that is appealing to many. One individual’s observation of a friend, an enthusiastic K-pop fan, showcasing Labubu charms in various photos from events sparked interest. The popularity was further fueled by Blackpink singer and The White Lotus star Lalisa, who accessorized her designer bags with Labubu charms from specific Pop Mart collections. The curiosity increased especially as more Pop Mart locations were announced to be opening.
Interest in Labubu continued to grow, especially after a friend who favors spooky kawaii styles began her search for these items. This pursuit became more engaging as sold-out queues and limited online pre-orders were encountered, confirming that these items are quickly snatched up upon release.
The merging of fantasy folklore and fandom fashion generated further interest, leading to a dive into YouTube videos to learn more about Labubu. These videos reveal character stories and the relationships between different Labubus, paralleling Mario Bros.’ Toad, and showcase various plush sizes that evoke a strong affectionate response. Discovering the existence of a Pop Mart theme park featuring Labubus further intensified the intrigue.
Inspired by friends’ experiences, a weekend mall trip was made to explore Pop Mart vending machines and familiar product retailers. However, due to high demand, storefronts had queues with empty shelves.
A collector friend began researching how to authenticate a Labubu purchased from a third-party seller. Pop Mart advises that official purchases directly from their retail stores are the only way to guarantee authenticity, although careful online research could guide buyers.
The hunt for these coveted items is intense, akin to other collector’s items. Attempts to purchase an “Exciting Macaron” plush keychain blind box were often met with high prices and suspicions of inauthenticity. Even typical Pop Mart product retailers have been marking up their inventory significantly above the price directly from Pop Mart.
After experiencing several "sold out" notices likely caused by high demand, a visit to Pop Mart revealed displays marked as "out of stock." Ultimately, a decision to purchase from another source at an increased price was made. Until obtaining a Labubu directly from Pop Mart, the authenticity remains uncertain, prompting anticipation for the next release to ensure peace of mind and display a charming creature.
