Throughout the decades, collectibles have always been an integral part of pop culture in countries around the world. In the U.S. in particular, people of all ages are seen scrambling to get their hands on the latest trending products, from Barbie dolls in the 1990s to Pokémon cards in the 2000s. Today, collectibles are more mainstream than ever; in particular, the Labubu–a plush toy produced by the company Pop Mart–has experienced a dramatic rise in popularity. These unique monster characters are everywhere: keychains attached on backpacks, in viral “24-karat gold Labubu” videos on TikTok, and stocked up at local toy stores. Yet, all of the hype surrounding them raises a familiar question: are Labubus truly worth purchasing, or are they simply another overrated, fleeting social media sensation?
Despite their mainstream traction, Labubus are not as aesthetically or financially appealing as they initially appear. The mischievous grins, nine pointy teeth, and large oval eyes may come off as rather uncanny, and even demonic, to some. A Labubu can also be quite expensive, especially the rarer versions, which may resell for significantly more than the standard $20-$30 blind boxes from Pop Mart, an investment not worthwhile to many: especially those who fall victim to low-quality counterfeits—known as “Lafufus”—or only buy one to fit in with the trend.
However, for many avid fans, Labubus are undoubtedly a worthy investment. Their cute, distinctive characters and easily portable keychains are compelling enough reasons to purchase one… or a few. The blind-box packaging format also creates a sense of excitement surrounding the whole experience: customers never know what a certain box may hold inside, adding an element of surprise in addition to satisfying their desire to own a Labubu.
Yet, like countless other trends on social media, Labubus will eventually dwindle in popularity. While they may currently seem like a positive purchase right now, their impermanence will quickly become apparent when a new product captures the media’s attention, labeling the Labubu as outdated and ultimately contributing to the consumer culture that plagues modern society.
