“As strange as it may sound, I like how you can’t purchase the exact colour that you want,” says collector Oliver Richardson. “With every box comes the excitement of not knowing, which makes you even more eager to purchase and to continue. The whole unboxing experience also makes the product more appealing.”
“What stands out to me about Kasing Lung’s work is the depth and narrative behind the designs,” says Lazer, founder of brand and talent agency Nobo. “When you compare them to something like Bearbricks, for example, Labubus feels more like a true character with a story. They’re also coming at a time when we’re experiencing a huge cultural shift in art, consumerism, and resale culture. Now, even serious art collectors are turning their attention to [Lung’s] ‘The Monsters’ universe. One of his pieces sold for £33,000 in March, which shows how the line between street culture and fine art is blurring.”
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“It’s also a testament to the power of K-pop,” says William Chuong, photographer and content creator. “When a celebrity casually picks something up, especially if they have a genuine interest in it, the impact on the public can be huge. What might seem like an obscure item can suddenly go viral and become hugely popular overnight. Kasing Lung and Pop Market have both been around for a while, and if it weren’t for the influence of Blackpink’s Lisa and Róse, we wouldn’t be as obsessed as we are now.”
The hype might not last. Remember when people used to pay the big bucks to get their hands on Beanie Babies? Remember that very dark (and very brief) moment in history when mega rich dudes were shelling out millions just to get a JPG of a weird-ass monkey? Just like any other trend, Labubus will come and they will go.
Does that really matter, though? “Life feels heavy right now, and I think people are craving small pockets of joy,” says Lee. “Labubus are playful, relatively affordable, and add personality to whatever you pair them with. I love seeing more guys embrace them and, more importantly, embrace handbags. Style has no gender, and charms like Labubu let you showcase your creativity in a fresh, fun way.”