Labubu has come a long way, and the popular character created by artist Kasing Lung will mark her 10th birthday with a luxury dalliance.
As part of a multifaceted collaboration between Moynat and Lung, the “Monsters” creator selected artworks depicting Labubu, Zimomo and King Mon to appear on handbags and small leather goods, including two-dimensional bag charms.
They are to debut on Oct. 11 in Shanghai, in tandem with the kickoff of 10th anniversary festivities for the “Monsters,” and sold at other Moynat boutiques in select cities over the coming months.
In an interview in Moynat’s Paris showroom earlier this month, the colorful bags, mini trunks and passport holders laid out before him, Lung marveled at the vibrancy of color Moynat achieved in printing his artworks on its M Canvas, and how they harmonize with its archival monogram.
The Moynat Kasing Lung collection includes handbags and small leather goods.
Courtesy of Moynat
He also marveled how Labubu, a “side character” in his “Monsters” trilogy, has emerged to become a global phenomenon. By his own admission, “the story is really, really dark. It’s not for children, but children can read it.”
Asked to account for the character’s global appeal — with children, Marc Jacobs and Blackpink’s Lalisa among the legions clamoring for the fluffy bag-charm versions sold at Pop Mart stores — Lung allowed that Labubu’s sneaky, naughty and fun personality makes her an endearing monster.
Lung draws inspiration from Nordic folklore and mythology for his intricately illustrated books, populated by his original characters.
“When I was young, I used to read many comic books, including The Smurfs. In my mind, a Smurf is a monster, but it’s very cute monster,” said Lung, who was born in Hong Kong and currently lives in Belgium. “And there’s the reason I created Labubu, because I’ve had many inspirations from when I was young, and many inspirations from the Smurfs.”
Lung, who receives fan mail and myriad requests to autograph his plush charms and solid figurines, said many people have been asking when he might do a luxury collaboration — and Moynat was a top target.
Ahead of the holidays, Lung typically visits Dover Street Market in Tokyo’s Ginza district, where last December he alighted upon Moynat’s capsule collection with renowned Japanese graphic designer and printmaker Kazumasa Nagai, and marveled how nearly every hair of Nagai’s quirky cartoon animals was discernible on luggage tags and card wallets.
“The reason I accepted [to do the Moynat collaboration] is because they are making such high-quality products, made by hand like my paintings. I think it’s very matching,” he told WWD.
It marks the first time Lung’s artwork has appeared on leather goods, and he confessed he could never in his wildest dreams have imagined a collaboration with a top French luxury house.
“I love storytelling,” Lung stressed. “The ‘Monsters’ series is storytelling. My art is storytelling, the project with Moynat is storytelling. All my picture books and figurines are storytelling.”
To wit: Lung is working on his next picture book, slated for release in 2026, with a host of new characters inside, and with Labubu getting a big upgrade.
“For this new picture book, Labubu is the main character, finally,” he said.
Michelle Yeoh surrounded by Moynat Kasing Lung handbags.
Xiangyu Liu/Courtesy of Moynat