What Exactly Is a Labubu and Why Does Everyone Want One? We Explore the “It Girl” Accessory That Has Everyone in a Chokehold

Move over, Stanley tumblers and Birkin bag keychains—a snaggle-toothed sprite called Labubu has crashed TikTok, flooded reseller sites, and turned every Fashion Week street style reel into a plushie parade. 

On Girls Gotta Eat, hosts Rayna Greenberg and Ashley Hesseltine spent a solid chunk of their time arguing about the phenomenon, and the debate perfectly captures why these cute-yet-weird monsters are 2025’s most divisive accessory.

What exactly are Labubus?

Greenberg kicks things off with a pocket-sized explainer: “Labubus are these plush little stuffed animals. They’re pretty big.” She emphasizes the physical size, saying, “They’re not your average key chain,” before reminding listeners that “they are from Pop Mart…the company that’s, like, millions of dollars richer now because of it.”

Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung originally created Labubus for his picture-book series, The Monsters. In 2019, licensing giant Pop Mart turned them into blind-box collectibles. Each drop swaps colors, outfits, and even textures, so opening a box feels like pulling a slot machine handle for millennials who grew up on Pokémon cards.

How the craze escaped the toy aisle

Labubu mania didn’t erupt in a vacuum. Greenberg points out the celebrity tipping point, noting that the game completely changed when “Rihanna was spotted with one.” Add BLACKPINK’s Lisa, who clipped a neon-yellow Labubus to her Bottega Veneta clutch, and Dua Lipa carrying multiple Labubus on a black Hermès Birkin, and Google searches for “Labubu” shot up 400 percent in a month. 

Weekly Pop Mart online drops (Thursdays, 9 p.m. ET) now disappear in seconds, prompting casual fans to turn to resale platforms where a $29 blind box can sell for $350.

Is the Labubu this generation’s Beanie Baby?

For Greenberg, the thrill lies in the hunt. She admits, “I love them so much” and jokes that, with her birthday looming, a Labubu is the only gift on her wish list. The blindbox model fuels that obsession—you might score an everyday edition or the ultra-rare “secret” figure, worth a fortune on StockX. Either way, the dopamine rush is real.

The great Labubu debate

Hesseltine, meanwhile, remains unconvinced. She groans that the doll “looks cumbersome to carry” and skeptically adds, “It’s so ugly. I just—I can’t explain it.” When Greenberg compares the creature to Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty, Hesseltine doubles down: “Oh, it’s the face for me… No! The Labubu face!” Their on-air sparring sums up every comment section—fans celebrate the chaotic-cute aesthetic while skeptics see nothing but a gremlin dangling from a Prada strap.

Where to find your own Labubu

Pop Mart remains the Labubu hub online every Thursday night and in flagship stores on Friday mornings. Specialty toy shops and claw machine cafés restock sporadically. At the same time, eBay, Grailed, and StockX list authenticated figures—just count the doll’s nine teeth to avoid knock-offs. Remember, each blind box is a mystery, so be ready to trade with fellow collectors if you’re chasing a particular colorway.

Love them or loathe them, Labubus check every modern trend box: scarcity, celebrity validation, and a polarizing design that guarantees clicks. Greenberg is already budgeting for her first drop, while Hesseltine would rather keep her tote gremlin-free. Wherever you land, don’t be shocked when those nine tiny teeth flash from the next influencer’s OOTD—because in 2025, nothing screams zeitgeist like a monster you’re not entirely sure is cute.

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