{"id":81486,"date":"2025-07-21T20:18:29","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T20:18:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/81486\/"},"modified":"2025-07-21T20:18:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T20:18:29","slug":"should-you-buy-a-labubu-the-trendy-toy-craze-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/81486\/","title":{"rendered":"Should you buy a Labubu? The trendy toy craze, explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bonnie Elle first saw the furry monsters currently populating Philly Chinatown\u2019s streets during a family vacation to Southeast Asia in August.<\/p>\n

Elle had seen people lined up outside of Pop Mart<\/a> stores, excitedly waiting to get their hands on Asia\u2019s biggest toy trend: Labubus.<\/a><\/p>\n

Seeing the popularity of the roughly eight-inch tall dolls with devilish grins and rabbit-like ears, she brought them back to Asia Crafts<\/a>, her gift shop in the heart of Chinatown.<\/p>\n

Elle said it took some time for the dolls\u2019 popularity to take off in the U.S. and reach the levels she saw in Asia. But this spring, the dolls\u2019 popularity soared, and they were flying off shelves almost faster than she could keep up with.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of a sudden, this year people started buying them, and then, a couple of months ago, Labubus went viral, and people started going crazy for them,\u201d said Elle.<\/p>\n

Chinatown\u2019s newest craze<\/p>\n

Now boxes of the dolls line the walls of Asia Crafts, and a display for Labubu clothes, which Elle calls her \u201cLabubu boutique,\u201d stands by the store\u2019s register. The boutique is stocked with an array of miniature designer clothes fit to dress a Labubu.<\/p>\n

Her Chinatown neighbor Phech Loa saw the same interest at her gift shop,\u00a0 Little Seven House<\/a>, just a block away from Elle.<\/p>\n

Loa says they now sell around 10 Labubus a day, but at the height of the craze, they sold 30 to 50 daily and saw lines of customers wrap around the inside of her store to ask about the trendy toy.<\/p>\n

\"\"Asia Crafts\u2019 stand of Labubu clothes displayed hats, dresses, vests and more, all available for purchase for any Labubu lovers. (Davis Cuffe\/Billy Penn)<\/p>\n

As Labubu dolls can cost upwards of $50, depending on the model, Loa said her store was making \u201cfive times more than\u201d its regular profit when Labubu\u2019s sales reached their peak.<\/p>\n

Asia Crafts and Little Seven House aren\u2019t the only Chinatown shops cashing in on the craze. Ebisu Japanese Life Store, Happy DIY and Chinese Culture & Arts Inc. all had Labubus in stock as of July 19.<\/p>\n

Beyond Chinatown, some Philly small business owners are also diving into the hype by customizing Labubus and accessories<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A K-pop boost sends Labubus global<\/p>\n

Loa credits Lisa of the ultra-popular K-pop group Blackpink, who co-starred in the latest season of HBO\u2019s The White Lotus, as the catalyst of the dolls\u2019 success.<\/p>\n

While the dolls have been around since 2015, their popularity surged across Asia in 2024 after Lisa shared a photo with a Labubu on Instagram<\/a>, where she has 106 million followers.<\/a><\/p>\n

This year, pop stars Rihanna and Dua Lipa were spotted<\/a> with the dolls clipped onto their bags, igniting their popularity in the U.S.<\/p>\n

Back in Philly, both Elle and Loa say they\u2019ve seen people visit their stores this summer with 5-10 dolls clipped onto their pants, shirts and bags.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw a guy with like, at least 10, he had a cross-body [bag], and from the top to the bottom he had them,\u201d said Loa. \u201cI called my husband to see it, too, and he was just so surprised.\u201d<\/p>\n

While she didn\u2019t have quite as many as that guy, local shopper Nickie Friel\u2019s Labubu sported a faux Louis Vuitton hat and jumpsuit, clipped stylishly to her purse.<\/p>\n

\"\"Phech Loa (center), who runs Little Seven House, shows off Labubus from her store alongside two other employees. (Davis Cuffe\/Billy Penn)<\/p>\n

The decorated doll may seem eccentric to some, but collectible plush toys and small charms have always been popular (think: Beanie Babies and Tamagotchi). Combine that with another recent trend towards blind\/mystery boxes<\/a>, which originated in Japan in the 1980s, and it\u2019s clear how Labubus have become a hit.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI just love the little [Labubu] outfits and stuff, they\u2019re so cute,\u201d said Friel. \u201cI have a bunch of different purses, so I can mix and match.\u201d<\/p>\n

Will Labubus last?<\/p>\n

Friel left Little Seven House with two new Labubus in hand, but despite her growing collection, Friel suspects the dolls\u2019 moment in the spotlight may be short-lived.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy whole life, American Girl dolls, Build-A-Bears, I\u2019ve always been crazy about that stuff, but in a year it will be something else,\u201d said Friel.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately for those looking to make their first purchase of trending toys, Elle and Loa both agree the dolls may not be here to stay.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been in Chinatown since 1991,\u201d said Elle. \u201cEvery couple of years, or every year, there\u2019s something that goes crazy for people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Bonnie Elle, of Asia Crafts, displays two of her store\u2019s Labubus. Exciting Macarons (left) features key-chain Labubus in seven different colors. (Davis Cuffe\/Billy Penn)<\/p>\n

Joy in the collecting<\/p>\n

Still, for many buyers, it\u2019s not about chasing trends but about the momentary delight of something silly, soft and sweet.<\/p>\n

With mystery boxes, rotating character series and even counterfeit \u201cLafufu\u201d versions floating around, there\u2019s a thrill of chance baked into the experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like gambling,\u201d laughed Friel, who said she\u2019s had to sort through some fakes while buying Labubus at certain locations.<\/p>\n

For Julia Smith, an Asia Crafts customer who plans to buy a Labubu someday and left the store Saturday with a different $54 plush charm, the joy lies in the frivolity of the purchase itself.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs someone who, in childhood, didn\u2019t get to spend a lot of money on fun toys, this is like rewarding the inner child,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s frivolous money spending, but it\u2019s on something super cute that gives you some joy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

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