From Nordic Forests to Global Showcases: The Meteoric Rise of an "Ugly-Cute" IP
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In 2015, Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung first sketched Labubu’s image in his picture book The Mysterious Buka: pointed ears, jagged teeth, and asymmetrical pupils—inspired by Nordic forest elf legends. Breaking sharply from traditional dolls’ saccharine aesthetic, Labubu captivated young hearts with its "authentically imperfect" charm. "I wanted it to represent the hidden selves within people," Lung reflected.
Pop Mart commercialized the character in 2019, but the true turning point came in 2024:
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Celebrity Endorsements Ignite Global Frenzy: BLACKPINK’s Lisa showcased Labubu to her 100+ million Instagram followers, instantly igniting Southeast Asia’s market. Rihanna and Harper Beckham followed, hanging Labubu from luxury bags and declaring it a "symbol of edgy coolness" .
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Social Media Explosion: TikTok’s #Labubu hashtag soared past 5 billion views. Thailand’s government even awarded it the title "Amazing Thailand Experience Ambassador" .
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Blind Box Economics Fuel Hype: With hidden-edition odds below 1%, the Labubu × VANS collaboration resold for 24x its retail price ($2,114 ). An original mint-green prototype later auctioned for $154,286 million .
When Labubu 3.0 launched in 2025, Pop Mart’s app topped U.S. shopping charts as 1.6 million users raced to buy online—solidifying this "little Chinese creature" as global youth’s social currency .