Price hikes may frustrate some, but the mood at a California meetup shows why the trend isn’t slowing down yet
Labubu-shaped bounce houses. Labubu-themed drinks. A chance to meet and greet a life-size Labubu.
This was the scene at a recent meetup at an outdoor shopping center in southern California, where dozens of people gathered for the chance to get their hands on one of the wildly popular fluffy dolls.
Vendor stalls, prepped with their Labubu-themed merchandise, lined the parking lot of the Stonewood center in Downey, a city in south-east Los Angeles. Children bounced on the white trampoline featuring pink and blue streamers where they posed with cutouts of a chestnut Labubu, providing pops of color for the perfect photo opportunity. Children and adults strolled with bags of Labubus and other figurine collectibles sold by Pop Mart, the Chinese toy retailer. Dozens crowded the tent of a reseller who was raffling away “blind bags” that contained a mysterious mix of different versions and styles of Labubu.
Since hitting the market in 2019, Labubus have become a global phenomenon. Their popularity has been fueled by social media posts of live unboxings that showcase rare collections. Launches of new editions sell out on Pop Mart within minutes, sending the company’s profits soaring over the past year.
