Labubu Mania: Why These Mischievous Charms Are 2025's Most Coveted (and Hardest to Find) Accessory
- Jordyn Mayes
- Jun 17
- 3 min read
From surprise drops to viral unboxings, a tiny toy is dominating bags and feeds everywhere.
Step aside, other accessories! If you’ve been scrolling TikTok, spotting celebrity street style, or simply walking through high-traffic urban areas lately, you’ve undoubtedly noticed the undeniable rise of the Labubu. These mischievous, elvish creatures have officially cemented their status as the “it girl” accessory of 2025, sparking astonishingly long lines outside collectible stores and racking up millions of Google searches worldwide. Their omnipresence on social feeds, dangling from designer bags, signals a phenomenon that's more than just a cute toy.
This viral explosion comes with a fascinating paradox. While initially designed to be accessible—often ranging from under $25 to $100—Labubus are notoriously hard to snag. New drops sell out in mere seconds, only to reappear on resale platforms for hundreds of dollars. For the truly coveted, limited-edition figures, like the 'Vans Old Skool' or 'Best of Luck,' prices can even soar into the thousands of dollars (e.g., up to $3,175 for 'Vans Old Skool' or $1,397 for 'Best of Luck'). This extreme scarcity transforms the simple act of buying into a thrilling, high-stakes hunt, a core part of their undeniable allure.
So, what exactly are these elusive charms, and why the sudden obsession? Labubus originated in Hong Kong, born from artist Kasing Lung's Nordic-inspired picture books in 2015. They were brought to collectible life by the Chinese toy giant Pop Mart in 2019, quickly amassing a cult following. Labubu is part of "The Monsters" tribe, alongside characters like Zimomo and Mokoko. Defined by their wide, expressive eyes, a distinct mischievous nine-toothed grin, and fuzzy exteriors, these creatures wear various outfits across collections, adding to their unique appeal. Despite their cheeky smiles, Lung describes them as well-natured beings who simply find themselves in a pickle sometimes.
Beyond their unique design, the thrill of the hunt is amplified by how Labubus are sold: in 'blind boxes.' This means you don't know which specific character or rare variant you'll get until you unwrap it, transforming each purchase into a mini-event. This element of surprise fuels excitement, prompting countless fans to record their unboxing reactions online, capturing that raw moment of discovery. It’s this shared joy and the satisfaction of "winning" a sought-after item that transcends age groups, making collecting a universally relatable quest.
The Labubu phenomenon truly erupted into mainstream consciousness in mid-2024, notably after Blackpink's Lisa was spotted with one on Instagram. This celebrity endorsement proved immensely powerful, catapulting Labubu from a niche collectible into a global must-have. High-profile figures like British rapper Central Cee further amplified the craze, famously clearing out a Glasgow sneaker store's entire Labubu stock before a show, later flaunting a rare 'Chestnut Cocoa' figure on his Hermès Birkin. This surge in popularity also aligns with a growing trend in menswear: the embrace of designer bags and the desire to personalize them with playful, conversation-starting charms.
But beyond the charming characters and the thrilling chase, the Labubu craze—like so many others before it—offers a fascinating glimpse into how trends ignite and rapidly spread in our hyper-connected digital age. Driven by a potent mix of celebrity endorsement, social media virality, and strategic scarcity, these phenomena highlight just how swiftly societal desires can shift. Does our collective urge to snag the hottest accessory speak to an inherent need to fit in, to participate in a shared cultural moment, or does it hint at a deeper materialism that defines our consumer habits? Perhaps it's a complex blend of all these factors, a powerful testament to how even the smallest, most whimsical items can become significant symbols of belonging and status in our fast-paced, trend-driven world.
Whether the hype lasts or eventually fades like Beanie Babies of decades past, Labubu's moment reveals much about our contemporary desires.
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