LABUBUS | PHOTO ADOBE STOCK
The Strip District Terminal is adorned with shops of all shapes and sizes, but along the bustling street, the most popular destinations are vending machines — those that sell tiny, ugly monsters known as Labubus.
A Labubu is a small, child-like monster doll that has taken the world — and Pittsburgh — by storm. Shops across the country are witnessing the birth of a new collectable trend.
The dolls were created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung. Labubu is a character from Lung’s 2015 illustrated story “The Monsters,” and takes inspiration from Nordic mythology and East Asian culture, according to Lung’s biography from the Kaikai Kiki Gallery.
VENDING MACHINES SELLING LABUBUS AT THE TERMINAL IN THE STRIP DISTRICT | PHOTO BY NATALIE RODRIGUEZ
The toys come in blind boxes, so the color and personality of each doll is revealed after opening. Many collections have six options as well as rare “secret editions.”
Curious customers can also buy Labubus from Ebisu PGH, Pittsburgh’s first Japanese Life Store on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill, or at one of two Pop Mart Robo Shops (vending machines) located in the Strip District Terminal passageway near Novo Asian Food Hall.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the vending machines in the Strip District were sold out of Labubus. The prices range from $27.99 to $55.99, with a typical blind box costing $27.99.
While the trend is similar to the Beanie Baby craze of the 1990s, what makes these ugly little monsters so popular?
A few blocks down from the Pop Mart vending machines, other businesses in the Strip have observed the trend.
“Every time there’s a restock, there’s people lined up for hours and you can’t walk through. People even line up chairs to try to get one,” says McKenna Pascuzzi, 22, who works at Clean Your Dirty Face, a facial spa in the Terminal.
A COLLECTION OF LABUBUS | PHOTO ADOBE STOCK
“When I started working here a few months ago, there were some in the vending machine, and I regret not buying one now,” she says.
Labubus have a loyal following, and many fans try to collect different variations of each doll.
Skiyah Hall, 19, a student at Duquesne University, has collected more than a dozen blind boxes from Pop Mart and owns four Labubus. Her first Labubu was a gift, but it was not love at first sight.
“When I first saw them [Labubus], I was like, ‘Oh, my God, these are so ugly, I would never buy these willingly with my own money,” Hall says, “But then I went back and they started to get more popular, and I gave them another try.”
SKIYAH HALL’S LABUBU COLLECTION | PHOTO BY SKIYAH HALL
Now, Hall chases the rush of the mystery boxes and treats every parcel like a new surprise.Because the vending machines sell out quickly, Hall recommends researching local sellers who sell the dolls at a reasonable price. Reputable sellers also ensure legitimate products.
With every popular item comes a cheap knockoff. Hall warns fellow enthusiasts of “Lafufus” or fake Labubus, sold online for double the price.
While it may sound crazy, there are a few ways of ensuring the legitimacy of a Laububu plush. Real Labubus always have nine teeth, a pale peachy face and are about the size of an iPhone, according to Pop Mart.
This trend has no sign of slowing down, and many fans eagerly await the next drop of the cute, ugly dolls.