Okay, hold up. Labubu?!

You’re telling me this gremlin-looking, wide-eyed forest creature toy with a maniacal grin is suddenly hot in the market? A that girl collectible? Like, people are out there paying at least $25-$50 for a doll that lowkey looks cute, but in a creepy sort of way?

As of 2025, the Labubu brand has grown into a $1.8 billion industry, reports The Economic Times. But what really is the sudden obsession with these plushies?

First of all, what even is a Labubu? And what the heck is going on?!

Meeting Labubu - AKA the Doll Everyone’s Obsessed With

Labubu reminds me of 2019 when the LOL dolls were hot in the market. The FOMO fueled collecting, mystery blind boxes, and tiny, cute accessories. Now fast-forward to 2025: enter Labubu—the icon of The Monsters series created by artist Kasing Lung, which became popular through collaboration with the Hong Kong toy brand, POP MART. This fluffy, sharp-toothed plushie was inspired by Nordic Fairy Tales, and I think this unique origin gives it appeal. It has over 300 editions, dressed in a new look and persona— creepy, cute, mischievous, kindhearted —you name it!

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The Unboxing Rush

This is a genius tactic to keep people, especially the younger customers, hooked to your products, and honestly, Labubu has displayed it perfectly. Like many other collectibles, the Labubu dolls come in a blind box form, meaning you don’t know which doll you’re going to get until you open it. That mystery element is instant dopamine, encouraging you to get curious, buy more, and then check if you got the limited edition, or the common one.

It is the same psychological tactic that powered the LOL surprise and the Pokémon cards—only this time, Gen Z finds it more aesthetic.

The Celebrity Bling

Celebrities like Rihanna, Dua Lipa have been seen flaunting the adorable little Labubu plush charms on their bags.

In addition, LISA of BLACKPINK also expressed in a recent interview about how she’s been ‘going crazy for them for almost a year.’ The initial craze for the Labubus was sparked by LISA, the first major celeb ambassador, which led to these collectibles being popular in Thailand, and then a globally known luxury accessory.

It’s Weird and Niche—and That’s the Point

Image Credit: Panpanchik from Wikimedia Commons

Let’s be frank—we’re so bored with perfect. It’s so mainstream, but Labubu is the opposite of that. The Labubu are weird, cute, snaggle-toothed, and completely out of the ordinary. And Gen Z—eat that up! And because of its uniqueness and odd charm, Labubu hits the bullseye.

Labubus and Handbags

Not only are people flexing Labubu next to handbags—they’re putting Labubu in handbags. Dressing him in custom outfits. Like this tiny vinyl goblin is a full-time influencer with brand deals. And the wildest part? It works.

The more unhinged it looks, the more viral it goes.

In Conclusion

Technically, the Labubu is a tiny, endearing vinyl chaos goblin giving you a cheeky grin and a deadpan stare. But somehow, almost everyone’s losing their minds over it!

We don’t even blink at the fact that people are spending money worth rent trying to collect a full squad of these creepy-cute creatures. But at the end of the day, one thing the Labubu dolls teach us is that standing out—being weird, offbeat, oddly lovable—is still the most powerful flex of all.