No, it’s not a Halloween leftover, it’s Labubu, the monster doll that has gone from niche collectible to a full-blown global fashion icon. And now, India too is catching the fever.
Published: Saturday,May 31, 2025 06:42 AM GMT-06:00
If you’ve been scrolling through Instagram or keeping up with fashion influencers lately, you’ve likely come across a strange, bug-eyed creature with pointy ears and a cheeky grin hanging off designer bags. No, it’s not a Halloween leftover, it’s Labubu, the monster doll that has gone from niche collectible to a full-blown global fashion icon. And now, India too is catching the fever.
From Fairy Tale Doodle to Viral Star: What is Labubu?
Labubu is not your regular plush toy. She’s the brainchild of Hong Kong-based artist Kasing Lung, who first sketched her in 2015 as part of a children’s storybook series called The Monsters. Inspired by Nordic fairy tales and fantasy worlds, Labubu is a mischief-loving character with jagged teeth, wide eyes, and a slightly creepy but oddly adorable personality.
Fast forward to 2019, and Lung partnered with Chinese toy giant Pop Mart to bring Labubu to life as a collectable vinyl toy. But here’s the twist: the dolls are sold in blind boxes, meaning buyers don’t know which version they’ll get until they open the box. That lucky dip element, combined with rare “secret editions”, created a frenzy among collectors and toy lovers.
What really sent Labubu soaring into the global spotlight, however, was its unexpected entry into the fashion world. International celebrities like Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, Dua Lipa, and even David Beckham have been seen flaunting the doll either clipped to handbags or carried as statement pieces. In fact, Dua Lipa’s chrome-hued Labubu made its first appearance during Paris Fashion Week, looking like something out of a futuristic art sketch.
The Desi Designer Doll Drop
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Back home in India, the trend is heating up as well. Ananya Panday recently turned heads with a pastel pink Labubu peeking out of her luxury bag, while style icon Sophie Choudry has also been spotted with her own version. The doll is no longer just a collector’s item, it’s a lifestyle statement.
Diet Sabya jumped into the Labubu conversation with an AI-generated post that imagined Labubu dolls dressed in iconic outfits from top Indian designers. From Rahul Mishra’s intricate embroidery to Gaurav Gupta’s sculptural couture (dubbed “Goopta-ta GG”), the dolls were draped in avant-garde fashion that looked both bizarre and brilliant. The imagined collaboration featured labels like Sabyasachi, Anamika Khanna, Manish Malhotra (cheekily called “Manisha Malhotra Global”), and the regal duo Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla (AJSK). The post went viral, drawing amused reactions from followers and further solidifying Labubu’s place in the Indian fashion ecosystem.
Even Bollywood’s favorite tastemaker, Karan Johar, couldn’t resist chiming in. In a recent Instagram Story, he wrote: “No one escapes it, we all desire it, but can’t always find it. It can make your heart skip a beat. No, it’s not love, it’s Labubuuuu…!!!”. With that, the doll officially got a seat at Bollywood’s cool kids’ table.
Why Labubu, and Why Now?
Labubu’s rise isn’t just about its looks, it’s also about timing. We’re living in the era of the kidult; adults who find comfort in childlike pleasures like toys, cartoons, and collectibles. In a fast-paced world full of stress, there’s something calming about cute, quirky items that bring back the innocence of childhood.
The blind-box culture adds a thrill of chance, while the rarity of certain editions turns them into investment-worthy art objects. A standard Labubu retails for around $30 (roughly Rs 2,500), but rare versions have been resold online for Rs.48,000 and even more. Pop Mart’s limited edition Labubu 3.0 “Big Into Energy” collection sparked huge demand globally, and the brand’s app has witnessed a spike in downloads, especially in the US and Southeast Asia.
What’s Next for Labubu?
Labubu’s appeal lies in her versatility. Whether it’s being worn like a fashion charm or displayed like a piece of modern art, this little monster fits into multiple worlds. There’s already talk of upcoming collaborations with fashion houses and digital crossovers, possibly even AR filters, NFTs, and gaming avatars. With Labubu’s global fanbase growing and Pop Mart’s aggressive expansion, the doll is likely to become even more embedded in entertainment and lifestyle culture.
In India, the potential for a Labubu-themed fashion line or even celebrity-led collaborations isn’t far-fetched. Given Bollywood’s love for quirky trends and collectible culture, we may soon see the doll gracing red carpets or making a cameo in a Koffee With Karan episode.