{"id":212193,"date":"2025-09-09T07:02:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T07:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/212193\/"},"modified":"2025-09-09T07:02:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T07:02:15","slug":"what-in-the-labubu-is-going-on-north-texans-are-obsessed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/212193\/","title":{"rendered":"What in the labubu is going on? North Texans are obsessed"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Sunday afternoon at RedBird mall in Dallas, North Texans sipped on matchas and purchased labubus as the viral song \u201cGolden\u201d from Netflix\u2019s KPop Demon Hunters blasted during a Labubu Festival.<\/p>\n

The event, the third of its kind, shows North Texans\u2019 love for the plush dolls has reached a fever pitch. In recent months, there have been dozens of labubu-themed events in North Texas from raves<\/a> to markets and cake-decorating classes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A large crowd of fans attended a labubu festival filled with vendor booths, food and a plethora of labubu dolls. The Labubu festival was held at The Shops at RedBird in Dallas, on September 7, 2025. <\/p>\n

Steve Hamm \/ Special Contributor<\/p>\n

Inspired by Nordic mythology, the collectible labubu dolls sold by Chinese toy company PopMart have garnered a cultlike following with many crediting Blackpink\u2019s Lisa for its rise after she featured the toys on her social media last year. Now, labubus have a host of celebrity fans including Rihanna, Kim Kardashian and tennis star Naomi Osaka who at the U.S. Open in the past few weeks debuted blinged out tennis-themed labubu dolls<\/a> including \u201cBillie Jean Bling.\u201d <\/p>\n

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\"Naomi<\/p>\n

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, walks on the court with a Labubu doll hanging from her bag before playing against Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, during the women’s singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo\/Yuki Iwamura)<\/p>\n

Yuki Iwamura \/ AP<\/p>\n

Tram Nguyen, 33, was a vendor at Sunday\u2019s Labubu Festival in Dallas where she sold hand-crocheted hats and bags to accessorize labubus. She said she makes several hundred dollars at each festival with her most popular item being a hat and bag combo for $15. <\/p>\n

Related<\/p>\n

\"Royal<\/p>\n

Nguyen, who lives in Carrollton, said she\u2019s noticed labubu dolls seem to have a universal appeal regardless of age. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s everyone, like it\u2019s so surprising,\u201d she said. \u201cYou have kids that are like 5-years old up to people that are in their 40s and 50s collecting these labubus.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"Aladeen<\/p>\n

Aladeen Alhayek, right, takes a photo on his smartphone of himself and Amira Alhayek as they pose with a costumed labubu doll at the Labubu festival which was held at The Shops at RedBird in Dallas, on September 7, 2025. <\/p>\n

Steve Hamm \/ Special Contributor<\/p>\n

That\u2019s something that resonates with 51-year-old Arlington resident Roni West whose son Zaytoven, 33, bought her a mini labubu keychain. Back at home, she also has a large Zimomo labubu on a stand next to her TV. <\/p>\n

For her, there\u2019s something nostalgic about labubus which remind her of the monchhichis, Japanese stuffed monkey toys, that were popular in the 70s and 80s. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is me telling my age, but I remember the monchhichis. And I guess this is just a newer trend of the monchhichis upgraded. So I\u2019m just happy with the colors and color scheme of it all,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

Related<\/p>\n

\"Labubu<\/p>\n

She attended a previous labubu festival earlier this year and plans on attending more in the future. West said part of the reason she attends festivals is because she trusts that vendors are selling authentic labubus and not lafufus, cheaper dupes of the toy, which have also become a lucrative market. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t me who did, but I did have a friend who picked up one. And I was like, \u2018nah, man that\u2019s not real.\u2019 So yeah, it happens,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"Pictured<\/p>\n

Pictured from left, Pablo Medrano, Diana Medrano, 9, Daniela Ramirez and Rosa Medrano as they checked out a display of labubu products for display and sale at a Labubu festival which was held at The Shops at RedBird in Dallas, on September 7, 2025. <\/p>\n

Steve Hamm \/ Special Contributor<\/p>\n

Fourth grader Diana Medrano, 9, walked around the festival with her parents and cousin on the hunt for her second authentic labubu. She couldn\u2019t contain her excitement for the furry dolls, which she started collecting after a friend brought one to school. <\/p>\n

\u201cI kind of love having labubus,\u201d she said. \u201cOne of my brothers always says they\u2019re kind of like creepy for him, but I just said they\u2019re kinda cute for me. They\u2019re cute and you can dress them up!\u201d <\/p>\n

That\u2019s exactly what she did to the blue sea salt coconut macaron labubu hanging from her purse. She put a hot pink bracelet around its little waist to match the ruffles on her flamingo-themed shirt. <\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

An aerial view of the Labubu festival which was held at The Shops at RedBird in Dallas, on September 7, 2025. <\/p>\n

Steve Hamm \/ Special Contributor<\/p>\n

Other festivalgoers like Gen Zers Elaine Wong, 25, and Maddie Reyna, 25, came to look at labubus but also to sell off some of their collections. <\/p>\n

Part of the appeal of labubus is the suspense of opening up a blind box and not knowing what\u2019ll be inside. But that also creates surpluses for collectors who can end up with multiple of the same kind. <\/p>\n

Reyna said she wants to sell her sesame bean and toffee labubus from the macaron series. <\/p>\n

\u201cI am trying to sell two of them just because \u2026 I just want the ones that I want but I don\u2019t need all the series and all the types of them,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A booth vendor directs fans through a variety of items on display for sale at the Labubu festival which was held at The Shops at RedBird in Dallas, on September 7, 2025. <\/p>\n

Steve Hamm \/ Special Contributor<\/p>\n

Though labubus at the festival ranged from about $50 to $400, Wong said buying labubus is well worth it. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey are expensive, but so is like paying for a meal. It\u2019s temporary joy. I want to spend the money how I want and this is what I choose to do with it,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

Wong said there\u2019s something freeing about doing what she wants with her adult money. <\/p>\n

\u201cI loved plushes when I was younger and this is kind of like healing my inner childhood by being able to purchase them with money that I wasn\u2019t able to as a kid if you were turned down by your parents.\u201d <\/p>\n

For many North Texans, whether they\u2019re actually kids or just kids at heart, that seems to be the draw of the quirky-looking fluffy dolls with gnashing teeth. <\/p>\n