# Labubu > Labubu is a collectible toy line by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung featuring mischievous elf-like creatures with sharp teeth, launched globally by Pop Mart in 2019. Labubu is a line of collectible plush toys and vinyl figures created by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung, featuring mischievous elf-like creatures with sharp teeth and furry bodies. Originally characters from Lung's 2015 illustrated book series *The Monsters*, Labubu exploded into a global collecting craze after partnering with Chinese toy company Pop Mart in 2019, with sales reaching billions of dollars by 2025[4]. The toys also became a meme in mid-2025 as part of a "slang overload" trend mocking consumer culture by combining Labubu with other viral products like Dubai Chocolate and matcha drinks[3]. ## Origin Kasing Lung, born in Hong Kong in 1972, moved to the Netherlands at age seven, where he developed a love for Nordic fairy tales and elf mythology[1][4]. Drawing on this childhood fascination, Lung launched an illustrated book series called *The Monsters* in 2015, featuring a playful tribe of female elves called Labubus[1]. "That's why I wanted to create something that I've always known existed in my heart," Lung told CGTN Europe[1]. In the stories, Labubus are kind-hearted creatures whose good intentions sometimes lead to chaos[1]. The series includes around 100 different Labubu characters[1]. One storyline follows a Labubu dating a shy skeleton named Tycoco, whom she playfully teases[1]. Lung first released artistic toy figures based on the characters through the company How2Work shortly after the trilogy came out[4]. But the toys didn't take off globally until 2019, when Lung partnered with Pop Mart, the Chinese toy retailer specializing in blind box collectibles[4]. That first *Monsters* series launch "broke the sales record in the art toy category" according to Pop Mart[1]. - **Platform:** Kasing Lung's *The Monsters* book series (character), Pop Mart stores (toy line), Twitter / X and TikTok (meme format) - **Creator:** Kasing Lung (character designer/illustrator), Pop Mart (toy manufacturer), @gomenstruation (first known slang overload post) - **Date:** 2015 (character creation), 2024 (viral popularity), 2025 (meme format) ## Overview Labubu figures are zoomorphic elves with round furry bodies, wide eyes, pointed ears, and nine sharp teeth forming a mischievous grin[4]. The central character Labubu belongs to a tribe called "The Monsters" that also includes characters like Tycoco (Labubu's skeleton boyfriend), Mokoko, Pato, Spooky, and Zimomo[4]. The toys come in various sizes, from small keychain figures to massive limited editions, and are primarily sold in "blind box" packaging where buyers don't know which specific figure they'll get until they open the box[1]. The blind box format taps into a long tradition of mystery-based collecting, from cereal box prizes to Japanese capsule toys to trading cards like Pokémon[1]. Part of the draw is the chance of pulling a rare "secret" figure, which can command high resale prices. A standard Labubu blind box retails for $27.99 in the U.S., but rare figures like the secret Chestnut Cocoa Labubu sell for over $149 on eBay[1]. Beyond the physical toys, Labubu became a meme format in 2025 when internet users started combining it with other trending consumer products (matcha, Dubai Chocolate, Crumbl Cookies) in posts satirizing algorithm-driven consumerism[3]. ## How It Spread ### The Lisa Effect (2024) Labubu toys gained widespread attention in April 2024 when K-pop group BLACKPINK member Lisa was photographed with a keychain Labubu on her bag[4]. This single celebrity sighting sparked a trend that spread rapidly through Thailand and Southeast Asia. Other celebrities followed: Rihanna, Cher, and Dua Lipa were all spotted with Labubu accessories[1][4]. The craze intensified through 2024, with Pop Mart reporting The Monsters line generated RMB 3.04 billion (roughly $430 million) in revenue that year, equal to 23.3% of the company's total sales[4]. Demand was high enough to crash Pop Mart's website on at least one occasion[4]. ### Global Mania (2025) By 2025, Pop Mart had released over 300 different Labubu figurines, with prices ranging from $15 for a small vinyl figure to $960 for a 79-centimeter "mega" edition[4]. In June 2025, a 1.2-meter-tall mint-green Labubu sold for $170,000 at the first official Labubu auction in Beijing, drawing nearly 1,000 bidders[1][4]. The craze brought problems too. In May 2025, Pop Mart paused sales at all 16 UK stores until June "to prevent any potential safety issues" after reports of customers fighting over the toys[4]. Russia's Federation Council proposed banning Labubu sales entirely[4]. A thriving counterfeit market sprung up, with knockoffs nicknamed "Lafufus"[1][4]. Some collectors actually sought out fakes for their unconventional designs[4]. Revenue from The Monsters hit RMB 4.81 billion (about $670 million) in just the first half of 2025, accounting for 34.7% of Pop Mart's sales[4]. Pop Mart CEO Wang Ning's 48.73% stake in the company secured a $21.1 billion fortune, making him the youngest member of China's top ten billionaire list at 38-39 years old[4]. ### The Meme Phase (Mid-2025) As Labubu, matcha drinks, and Dubai Chocolate all experienced simultaneous viral crazes in 2025, internet users began mocking the convergence[3]. On April 17, 2025, X user @gomenstruation posted what appears to be the first "slang overload" tweet combining the buzzwords: "Dude the way you use that digicam while drinking matcha with the Labubu hanging off your carabiner attached to your Japanese selvedge denim is so tuff twinnn." The post earned over 16,000 likes[3]. The format exploded in June 2025. TikToker @poison_bf posted a video on June 5 captioned "I got my matcha, Dubai Chocolate, my Labubu, and my Murakami book. What should I get next, Mr. Algorithm," picking up over 172,900 likes[3]. On June 29, TikToker @yezzuurr_ posted a SpongeBob meme captioned "Me and the boys getting the limited edition Dubai Chocolate Moonbeam Ice Cream Labubu flavored Crumbl Cookie with matcha in Weck Jars," gaining over 177,900 likes in four days[3]. ## How to Use **As a collectible:** Labubu figures are typically purchased in blind boxes from Pop Mart stores or online. Collectors often buy multiple boxes hoping to pull a rare "secret" figure. Many people clip smaller Labubu keychains to bags, belt loops, or carabiners as fashion accessories[1]. **As a meme:** The "Labubu Matcha Dubai Chocolate" format involves listing as many trendy consumer products as possible in a single sentence or caption, usually in a mock-admiring or satirical tone. Common approaches include: 1. Describing someone's aesthetic using only product buzzwords ("the way you sip your matcha with the Labubu hanging off your bag...") 2. Listing increasingly absurd product combinations ("limited edition Dubai Chocolate Moonbeam Ice Cream Labubu flavored Crumbl Cookie with matcha...") 3. Pairing the text with reaction images or video clips that suggest mindless consumption[3] ## Cultural Impact Labubu's commercial impact is staggering. Pop Mart's revenue from The Monsters IP reached $670 million in just the first half of 2025, and the brand's success made CEO Wang Ning one of China's youngest top-ten billionaires[4]. The toys sparked real-world incidents: UK stores temporarily closed due to customer altercations, Russia considered a national ban, and the counterfeit market grew large enough to earn its own slang ("Lafufus")[4][1]. The Labubu craze sits at the intersection of several larger trends: blind box collecting (building on Japan's gachapon tradition), celebrity-driven fashion accessories, and the adult toy market pioneered by brands like Jellycat and Bearbrick[4][1]. Pop Mart's model of exclusive drops, limited runs, and retail scarcity mirrors the hype mechanics of streetwear and sneaker culture. Sony Pictures acquiring film rights in November 2025, with *Paddington* director Paul King attached, signals Hollywood's interest in the brand's storytelling potential beyond toy shelves[4]. The meme dimension added another layer, turning Labubu into shorthand for performative consumerism. The "slang overload" posts satirized how quickly products move from niche discovery to mainstream saturation to self-parody in the social media age[3]. ## Fun Facts - There are roughly 100 different Labubu characters in Kasing Lung's original story universe, each with distinct personalities and relationships[1] - A life-size, 1.2-meter Labubu sold for $170,000 at auction in Beijing in June 2025, drawing nearly 1,000 bidders[1][4] - Someone commissioned a 24-karat gold Labubu weighing 200 grams, costing approximately 20,000 British pounds[5] - People in Labubu costumes showed up at both a Los Angeles Pride parade and an anti-ICE protest in June 2025[1] - Pop Mart had to pause all UK store sales in May 2025 after customers physically fought over the toys[4] ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Labubu? Labubu is a line of collectible plush toys and vinyl figures created by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung, featuring elf-like creatures with sharp teeth, furry bodies, and mischievous grins. They are produced by Chinese toy company Pop Mart and sold primarily in blind box packaging[1][4]. ### Where did Labubu come from? Kasing Lung created the character as part of his illustrated book series *The Monsters* in 2015, inspired by Nordic fairy tales he loved as a child growing up in the Netherlands. The toy line partnered with Pop Mart in 2019, which launched it to global popularity[1][4]. ### What does Labubu mean? Labubu is the name of the central character in Lung's *The Monsters* series. In the stories, Labubus are kind-hearted female elves whose good intentions sometimes cause chaos. As a meme, "Labubu" became shorthand for trendy consumer products and algorithm-driven shopping habits[1][3]. ### How do you use Labubu? As a toy, people collect Labubu figures and often clip smaller versions to bags or belt loops as fashion accessories. As a meme, people list Labubu alongside other trending products (matcha, Dubai Chocolate) to satirize consumerism[1][3]. ### Is Labubu still popular? As of mid-2025, Labubu was at peak popularity, with Pop Mart reporting $670 million in revenue from The Monsters IP in just the first half of the year. Sony Pictures acquired film rights in November 2025[4]. ### Who created Labubu? Kasing Lung, a Hong Kong-born artist raised in the Netherlands who settled in Belgium. He designed the characters for his 2015 book series *The Monsters* and later partnered with Pop Mart for the toy line[1][4]. ### Why did Labubu go viral? The toys gained mainstream attention after BLACKPINK's Lisa was photographed with a Labubu keychain in April 2024. Other celebrities like Rihanna and Dua Lipa followed, and Pop Mart's blind box scarcity model amplified demand[1][4]. ### How much is the most expensive Labubu? A 1.2-meter-tall mint-green Labubu sold for $170,000 at the first official Labubu auction in Beijing in June 2025. Separately, a custom 24-karat gold Labubu reportedly cost 20,000 British pounds to commission[1][5]. ### What are blind boxes? Blind boxes are sealed packages containing a randomly selected toy from a themed series. Buyers don't know which figure they'll get until they open the box. Series often include rare "secret" figures that drive secondary market speculation[1]. ### What are Lafufus? "Lafufus" is a colloquial nickname for counterfeit Labubu figures. The knockoff market grew large enough that some collectors started seeking out fakes for their unusual, off-model designs[1][4]. ### Why were Labubu sales paused in the UK? Pop Mart paused sales at all 16 UK stores in May 2025 "to prevent any potential safety issues" after multiple reports of customers physically fighting over the toys[4]. ### What is the Labubu Matcha Dubai Chocolate meme? A mid-2025 meme format where people stack trending product names (Labubu, matcha, Dubai Chocolate, Crumbl Cookies) in a single post to mock algorithm-driven consumer culture. The first known example appeared on X in April 2025[3]. ### Is there going to be a Labubu movie? Sony Pictures acquired rights to develop a Labubu film in November 2025. Paul King, the director of the *Paddington* films, was announced as director in December 2025[4]. ### How many Labubu characters exist? There are about 100 different Labubu characters in Kasing Lung's story universe, and Pop Mart had released over 300 different figurine designs by 2025[1][4]. ### Why did Russia try to ban Labubu? Russia's Federation Council proposed banning the sale of Labubu figures, though the specific reasoning beyond the general craze-related disruptions is noted in reporting on the controversy[4]. ## References 1. ['It was born to be a champion': How Dubai chocolate conquered the world]() 2. ['Labubu' is a plush toy that is causing a frenzy. Here's its origin story : NPR]() 3. [I Tried The Viral Starbucks Dubai Chocolate Bar Matcha Latte—These Are My Unfiltered Thoughts]() 4. [Labubu - Know Your Meme]() 5. [Labubu]() 6. [Labubu - Urban Dictionary]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/labubu Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library