Labubus are the latest must-have fashion accessory.
Image: Instagram
If your little one is still nagging you for a Squishmellow, you can prepare yourself for the next plush toy craze: the Labubu.
While these fluffy, wide-eyed, scraggly-eared little creatures are meant for kids, adults are going crazy over them as well.
They are rapidly becoming must-have accessories and have been fully adopted by the fashion crowd, pop culture icons, and collectors alike.
People are using Labubus to decorate their handbags.
Image: Instagram
Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung originally dreamed up these cuties.
Labubu started out as part of a quirky, fairytale-inspired art series called “The Monsters”.
The mischievous-looking bunnies with teeth are half creepy-cute and completely adorable at the same time.
That’s exactly what makes it so irresistible.
Thanks to a collaboration with Chinese toy giant Pop Mart, Labubu was released in a collectable blind-box format where you don’t know which one you’re getting until you open it, and that’s when things really blew up.
If you’re wondering how they went from just your ordinary cute plush toy to an overnight sensation, then you have a few celebrities to blame.
It all kicked off when Lisa from BLACKPINK, who is the queen of fashion-forward Gen Z, casually showed off her Labubu collection on Instagram.
The fandom went wild, and suddenly, everyone wanted one.
Then Rihanna was seen with one clipped to her bag. Singer Dua Lipa has been spotted with one as well.
And just like that, Labubu wasn’t just a toy but a statement piece.
If you thought the hype stopped at celebrity Instagram posts, think again.
Labubu has officially stepped into the world of high fashion.
Designers in Indonesia, including Sebastian Gunawan and Yogi Pratama, have even created miniature couture looks for the plush toys.
Meanwhile, Labubu has made appearances at fashion events alongside brands like Louis Vuitton and Valentino, blending perfectly into the curated chaos of street style.
On TikTok, the #Labubu tag has racked up millions of views, with people posting elaborate unboxings, styling their plushies like mini fashionistas, and even trading rare editions.
South African influencers have been bitten by the Labubu bug as well and have eagerly been sharing their discoveries.
The most exciting part is that they don’t know which Labubu they will be unboxing.
But it’s not just hype, for many, Labubu scratches that nostalgic itch.
It's soft, collectable, and comes with a bit of that childhood joy, now wrapped in designer flair.
Whether you're gifting it to a kid or keeping it for your shelf (no shame), Labubu has officially crossed over from "toy" to "cultural moment."