Pop Mart has come a long way in the past 14 years, starting from a small variety store in Beijing to aiming for over 200 stores across the U.S. They're the latest Chinese retailer setting their sights on American shoppers.
Tapping into the collectibles trend, Pop Mart has teamed up with global brands and, more importantly, has developed its own unique characters. They've been collaborating with local artists to capture the essence of their locations, and they've really made a name for themselves with their mystery boxes—what they like to call blind boxes—that hold a surprise collectible inside.
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What is a Labubu Doll?
Back in 2015, Lung introduced Labubu as part of a larger group of characters known as The Monsters, which also features characters like Zimomo and Tycoco. These creations were inspired by Nordic fairy tales and made their first appearance in children's books.
Fast forward to 2019, Lung teamed up with the Chinese toy company Pop Mart, famous for its collectible toys often found in blind boxes. This collaboration took The Monsters from storybook characters to collectible toys.
Since then, Labubu has been launched in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, captivating fans all across Asia. You can find these dolls in different formats too, including plush toys and vinyl figures.
What makes the Labubu doll such a hit?
The character really started to take off in popularity when Lung released the story series with Labubu about nine years ago.
Even though this playful character made its debut in 2015, Labubu has recently turned into the hottest accessory, all thanks to Lisa from the K-pop group Blackpink. Back in April, she shared a video on her Instagram story where she was cuddling a Labubu plush doll from The Monsters’ Fall in Wild series. Since then, she’s been spotted adding Labubu pendants to her Kaithe Elena bag and Birkin, making it clear that Labubu is the latest trend!
Image source : Instagram/lalalisa_m
Thanks to Lisa’s Instagram post, the furry doll has really taken off in popularity, especially in Thailand. With the K-pop star endorsing it, Labubu has become a must-have accessory for her Thai fans. It's gotten so popular that even Thailand's Prime Minister’s Office Minister, Puangpet Chunlaiad, had to issue a public warning about counterfeit dolls.
