You may have heard the name “Labubu” either on TikTok, Instagram or any other social media platform. If you follow some celebrities like Lisa, the K-pop artist, Rihanna or even Kim Kardashian, well, this name rings a bell.
Labubu is a line of collectable plush toys that is both a fictional character and a brand that was created by a Chinese artist known as Kasing Lung, based in Hong Kong and sold through Pop Mart, a Chinese company by Wang Ning, which turned the toy into a goldmine.
Pop Mart is known for its blind box concept, where purchasers do not know the specific toy that they are getting. Most people are seen rejoicing after getting a specific toy that they refer to as “the secret one.”
The toy is said to be mischievous but still kind. It can be identified by its oversized eyes, round body and its nine sharp teeth. The toy retails at around Ksh.2,000 to Ksh.4,000 in blind boxes. In June 2025, a human-sized Labubu doll was sold for a record $150,324 (Ksh 19.41 million).
One of the biggest contributors to the fame of this toy is Blackpink member Lisa, who was seen possessing one of those toys and her fans wanted to have theirs too. It then became a must-have for celebrities and TikTokers.
Most influencers have made content about it, especially unboxing videos. Fans from Shanghai to London are seen making long queues just to purchase this ugly-cute toy, making the profits of Pop Mart grow by a large margin.
Estimates from Industry World, a Chinese market intelligence platform, said the Chinese art toy market was expected to reach more than Ksh.2.1 trillion ($16.85 billion) in revenue this year, accounting for more than 35 per cent of the global market and maintaining double-digit growth in China.
The toy has received several comparisons and people have had different ideologies and views about it.
Some have compared it to a toy showcased in “The Simpsons” that was known as “PAZUZU”, a figure from ancient Mesopotamian mythology, known for its canine face and wings.
A section of people have, however, termed the toy demonic due to its mystic nature.
“His eyes just turned green. It just turned green as I was cleaning my room,” a young girl is heard telling her mother about the toy on TikTok.
“I am burning this thing. This thing has been ruining my life and it is cursed,” another TikToker added.
In the end, the question remains: Will Labubu’s fame be short-lived, or will it live up to the hype?