How Labubu grew from illustration to global collector phenomenon

Labubu started on the page and became a market force. Created by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung, the character grew out of fairy and Nordic imagery and was presented with a deliberate ugly-cute look that blends whimsy and mischief. Over the 2010s that visual identity moved off the page into tangible collectibles as Pop Mart licensed the IP and scaled production for an international audience.

Pop Mart commercialised Labubu through blind-box series, plush pendants, vinyl figures and larger art-toy sculptures, while staging artist collaborations and event exclusives. That dual approach—wide availability paired with intentionally scarce pieces—created two parallel currents in the community. Mass releases keep entry costs low and sustain steady trading and social buzz. Limited editions, event-only items and artist proofs generate spikes in demand, fuel secondary-market sales and turn some pieces into gallery or auction material.

Labubu’s cultural footprint now spans museum and gallery exhibitions, commercial activations, celebrity sightings and the occasional high-end auction placement for one-off sculptures or artist proofs. For collectors that means the line operates both as a playful blind-box hobby and as a legitimate collectible category with provenance and art-market crossover opportunities. For event organisers and shop owners, Labubu draws steady foot traffic thanks to the blind-box thrill and an appetite for exclusives that can make pop-up drops profitable.

Practical steps help navigate this mixed landscape. Verify release details and drop calendars through official Pop Mart channels and the artist’s posts, and track series numbers so you know what you’re chasing. Inspect packaging and condition closely—sealed blind boxes and intact packaging often preserve secondary-market value. Be alert for artist proofs and one-offs at gallery shows and auctions; these pieces carry collector premium and sometimes authenticate provenance for later resale. Budget for GAS—Gear Acquisition Syndrome—so a few high-value pieces don’t derail long-term collecting plans.

Community trading remains the heart of Labubu’s ecosystem. Local meetups, swap events and online forums are where exclusives change hands, repair tips get shared and the lore around rare releases grows. Event organisers can leverage that energy by timing exclusives and artist collaborations to create local demand, while newcomers benefit from starting with mass releases to learn the scene before pursuing scarce editions.

What this means now is continuity: expect Pop Mart and Kasing Lung collaborations to keep the line in the spotlight, and expect both steady drops and surprise scarce items to keep trading active. Follow official release information, join community swaps, and plan budgets around occasional high-end pieces so you can enjoy the blind-box buzz without getting boxed into bad trades.