A dozen furry Labubu dolls strung together on a metal chain dangled from Maki Li’s neck as he proudly posed for photos outside a Pop Mart store in central Beijing on Friday.
The fang-toothed toy creatures, made by Chinese toymaker Pop Mart, have become a global sensation, spotted on the handbags of celebrities such as Rihanna and Dua Lipa. Their newest version — a palm-sized Labubu priced at around $11 each — launched Thursday night and sold out almost immediately.
Li, 32, was among the lucky buyers, securing a box of 14.
“I’m super happy right now,” he said. “I’ll hang them in every possible place I can.”
Labubu toys are typically sold in blind boxes, meaning customers do not know which model they will get. The limited releases have fueled frenzies at Pop Mart stores worldwide.
Outside the buzzing Beijing store, Li Jianuo, who brought her two children, spent over 1,000 yuan ($140) on multiple new Labubus as a back-to-school gift.
“It’s so cute!” her 12-year-old daughter exclaimed as she revealed a Labubu with white ears.
For Jianuo, the purchase was about creating memories.
“When they grow up, they will be able to look back at how we scrambled to get it. I think it’s important to have that memory preserved.”
Labubus have even entered China’s political discourse. Commerce Minister Wang Wentao recently cited the dolls as an example of “new forms of consumption” that could stimulate the country’s sluggish economy.
Shoppers say the appeal lies in their quirky charm.
Zhang Jiaru, 27, who bought both mini and larger versions, said she loved their “ugly-cute” look.
“It’s about paying for your own interests. It makes you happy.”
For Maki Li, the purchase felt therapeutic.
“People can’t afford big-ticket items anymore — they can’t buy Balenciaga, so they buy Pop Mart instead. Wearing Labubus feels healing. They can keep you company for a long time.”
