Whether you think this toy is adorable, weirdly cute or just simply ugly, it is a fact that they’re a worldwide success. Labubus, the popular and widespread toy, were created back in 2015 as a collaboration with a store called Pop Mart and based on a Nordic folklore book series called “The Monsters”. 

The store sold these dolls as blindboxes, encouraging buyers to buy multiple items to collect  the mystery toys of their desire. This marketing phenomenon was so popular that the  mystery boxes became a trend by itself,  peaking in popularity in 2019 just as Labubus were able to take off. 

Even though these toys were successful from the beginning, the Labubu trend is not limited to China, but a global craze. In 2024, K-pop star Lisa from BLACKPINK was seen with the ugly-cute plush toy on Instagram. Because of Lisa’s popularity as a celebrity and many other influential people buying them, Labubus were recognized worldwide. The British Broadcasting Corporation reported that “ordinary folk are just as obsessed – from Shanghai to London, the long queues to snap up the doll have made headlines”.

Now you might wonder, why did people even want to buy these toys in the first place? There are multiple reasons that might suggest why buyers might have wanted Labubus. For starters, the ugly-cute style of these Labubus appeal to people who enjoy the aesthetic. Also, Labubus are keychains, allowing the owner to place these cute dolls on a wide variety of accessories, but on clothing as well.

Labubus have an impact on fashion as well, being worn to go out with pants, shirts, and jackets they are a stylish statement. This last reason is probably why many have wanted this toy, with it simply being a trend and fear of missing out. Millions of posts on tiktok and other social media apps continue to boost popularity and the need to fit in. 

A Labubu keychain is not cheap, priced at $30-55, and more exclusive versions found at more than $100. Pop Mart is reported to have sold $670 million worth of the dolls in 2025 alone with the company expecting sales to reach $1 billion dollars by the end of this year. “For comparison,” according to Wired.com, “Mattel sold $374 million worth of Barbie toys and $626 million worth of Hot Wheels products during the same period.”