Heard 'bout the Labubus? The Hot, Hyped Plush Monsters Causing Chaos Online!
Popular Labubu Dolls See Resale Prices Soar on Online Markets Due to TikTok's Latest Fad
These days, Labubus - strange little monsters with razor-sharp teeth and sly grins - are taking the internet by storm, thanks to viral videos on TikTok. Crazed fans are showing off their collections, while some resellers are cashing in big time on the astronomical prices these toys command online.
Labubus are inspired by Nordic mythology and manufactured by Chinese retailer Pop Mart. Typically selling for between $20 and $30, they come in "blind boxes," leaving buyers guessing until they open the box which color or design they've scored. The allure of the unknown and the prized "secret" Labubu, a rare version with just a 1-in-72 chance of showing up in a box, has catapulted these critters into superstardom.
The #labubu hashtag has peppered nearly 32,000 TikTok posts in the U.S. alone over the past week, while the global count tops over a million. But finding these coveted critters isn't easy: they're flying off shelves, with manyPop Mart stores reporting long lines and product shortages.
The Labubu craze has even caught the attention of celebrities and influencers. Singers Rihanna and Dua Lipa, along with members of K-pop group Blackpink, have been spotted donning the plush monsters. The trend's rise in Asia can be attributed to Blackpink's backing, giving Labubus a leg up in the competitive world of internet sensations.
But it's not all kittens and rainbows in Labubu Land. Re-sellers have seized the moment, jacking up prices on online platforms like eBay and StockX. Some collectors are paying thousands of dollars for rare editions, with some price tags reaching an eye-watering $7,000. Chaos has ensued at Pop Mart stores as customers battle for the viral toys, with videos showing fighting, shouting, and cutthroat competition. Who needs entertainment when you can watch drama unfold over a stuffed monster, right? One customer even dubbed it the "Labubu Hunger Games."
Labubu's creator, artist Kasing Lung, was born in the Netherlands and currently resides in Hong Kong. With inspirations drawn from Nordic mythology, he designed the characters that made their debut in a 2015 picture book, "The Monsters Trilogy." Lung partnered with Pop Mart in 2019 to bring his designs to life as collectible toys.
Over 400 Labubus have been seized by Chinese customs as villains try to smuggle them into the country for resale. The toys are also flying off shelves in China, with authorities confiscating them due to their intended profit-driven resale.
Labubus aren't the first internet sensation to create a frenzy. Last year, Stanley cups exploded in popularity, with enthusiastic consumers lining up outside stores for new releases and some even getting into fights. The Stanley mania led to wild behavior, including a woman who stole over $2,500 worth of cups in January 2024 and scammers peddling knockoffs.
The Labubu craze has its fair share of critics too. Some TikTok users argue that the obsession with Labubus exemplifies overconsumption, with fans buying in bulk and purchasing from resellers instead of appreciating the toys for their unique design. Others caution against following trends blindly and encourage originality.
So grab your wallets, batten down the hatches, and prepare for chaos; the Labubus are here, and they're not showing any signs of slowing down anytime soon!
While social media platforms such as TikTok are filled with enthusiastic displays of Labubus collections, some resellers are leveraging the demand to sell them for astronomical prices, causing chaos and even leading to fights among buyers (chaos). With the attention of celebrities like Rihanna and Blackpink, Labubus have become a significant part of pop-culture entertainment, inspiring new trends and debates about consumption and originality (entertainment, pop-culture).
