Labubu Mania: The Tiny Monster Taking Over Your TikTok Feed and Your Handbag!

From TikTok
hauls to celebrity wardrobes, Labubu has evolved into a symbol of
chaotic cuteness, collector status, and meme-able mischief. If one
thing is for sure, Labubu isn’t going anywhere anytime
soon. 

Who
Is Labubu?

Labubu is a
quirky, elf-like character created by Chinese
artist Kasing Lung. She is the standout
star of the Monsters universe, inspired by Nordic folklore. She is
joined by her friends Zimomo (the tailed leader), Mokoko (a pink
cutie with a heart-shaped nose), and Tycoco (Labubu’s skele-bae).
In 2019, Labubu gained massive popularity when Lung collaborated
with popular surprise box store Pop Mart. Since then, she has
become a must-have for handbags worldwide.

Celebrities Love Labubu

BLACKPINK’s Lisa skyrocketed
Labubu’s popularity when she confessed her love for the character.
Since then, she has been seen hanging from the handbags of Rihanna, Hilary Duff, Dua
Lipa, North West, and numerous
influencers. From the red carpet to TikTok, Labubu has become the
It Girl accessory of 2025.

How
To Get A Labubu (If You’re Lucky!)

The bag
charms are constantly sold out, so trying to get your hands on a
Labubu feels like chasing Eras Tour tickets — exciting,
chaotic, and nearly impossible. There are two ways to purchase
directly from Pop Mart: 

Pop Mart Website: They restock on Thursdays at 10pm ET. However, mini
drops can happen throughout the week, so checking nightly is
key.

TikTok Live Drops: Pop Mart runs live streams from 7pm to
3am ET on several official accounts. Small batches of Labubu are
released throughout the night. Be fast! Blink, and you’ll miss
’em.

Pro
tip: These surprise boxes sell out within seconds, so set your
alarms, grab a snack, and prepare to camp out for a while.

Accessorizing Your Labubu

Not only are
the actual bag charms a hit, but people are also designing outfits,
creating car seats, and crafting all sorts of accessories for their
Labubu. Some people are dressing the Labubu like themselves, some
are emulating the aesthetic they wish they had, and some are
showing school spirit with team-inspired outfits. 

Lizzo even has a line in her feature on “Whim
Whamiee” about her Labubu’s style: “How you talking s*** ‘bout
me / Can’t even out-dress my Labubu…”

The
Rise of the “Lafufu”, Resellers, & Labubu Theft

With great
popularity comes great… dupe drama. Enter the world
of “Lafufu”, a term coined by fans for
counterfeit Labubus that have gone viral on TikTok. Some look
pretty good while others are hilariously cursed with upside-down
faces, bald versions with removable fur, or odd expressions that
only a “Lafufu” could pull off.

Resellers
have flooded the website, in-person locations, and TikTok live
streams, making it even harder to obtain a Labubu. They scoop up
the entire stock within seconds and resell the blind boxes for
double or triple the retail value. This has turned the hunt for a
Labubu into a high-stakes game. 

Because the
surprise boxes are so hard to purchase, people have resorted to
Labubu theft. Fans have flooded social media with their stories of
their Labubus being stolen while in public. This has led to a
surprising fate for the “Lafufus”, who are now being embraced as
decoy charms, protecting the real Labubus from being stolen. Fans
have now resorted to protective cases, twist-lock carabiners, and
decoy Lafufus just to flaunt their prized monster safely.

So, if you’re
lucky enough to get your hands on a Labubu, keep an eye on your
bag! She might disappear faster than you can say “Pop Mart
drop!”