đź“° Labubu at the Center of a Global Phenomenon

Jennifer Nguyen

Luxury meets Labubu

Labubu’s rise into the fashion stratosphere has drawn mixed reactions. At Paris Fashion Week and beyond, celebrities like Marc Jacobs, Juyeon (Balenciaga), and Felix (Louis Vuitton) have adorned luxury bags with Labubu charms—from the “Big into Energy” series notably—creating heated debates online about its aesthetics and status symbolism.

Record-breaking prices & auction mania

A 4‑foot Labubu figurine was auctioned in Beijing for over £110,000 (approx. 1 million RMB), underlining the frenzy among collectors for ultra‑rare editions.Another 4‑ft mint‑green edition drew bids up to $170,000 in June.

Explosion in sales and hype

Pop Mart saw an estimated 350% profit growth in H1 2025, driven by overseas demand for Labubu blind‑box toys. Revenues are skyrocketing in North America and Europe, building on Pop Mart’s global expansion.

Official launch in Europe

On July 25, Pop Mart opened its first German store in Berlin to massive lines filled with fans eager to snag authentic Labubu dolls—amid warnings over cheap fakes ("Lafufus") being sold nearby.

Corporate profile

Pop Mart CEO Wang Ning has been lauded for turning Labubu into a $40+ billion global brand. His vision: take Pop Mart from China’s Disney to the world’s Pop Mart.


🎨 What's Next: Upcoming Drops & Collaborations

Seventeen X Labubu collaboration

In June, K‑pop superstars Seventeen participated in a unique collaboration: 14 custom Labubu dolls styled with Carhartt onesies and neon fur, auctioned as part of their Pharrell‑produced "Bad Influence" release. Bids have reached ~$2,200. It marks Labubu’s first official collaboration with a global fashion/lifestyle brand.Business Insider

"Big into Energy" series restock & accessories

Pop Mart’s “Big into Energy” vinyl plush pendant series released on April 25—this line continues to see limited restocks, especially the highly coveted chase variants.
Platforms like TikTok have noted a restock event of the “Exciting Macaron” Labubu keyring series that dropped July 21, 2025.

Anime adaptation on the horizon

Pop Mart plans to launch an anime adaptation of The Monsters—the story world behind Labubu—with ~156 episodes of 4‑5 minutes each, slated to debut mid‑2025.


📊 What to Know: Trends, Concerns & Collectibility

  • Unique design aesthetic: Labubu toys blend cute and grotesque with playful round bodies, big eyes, pointy ears, and their trademark nine‑tooth grin—sparking emotional appeal and fashion crossover.The Times
  • Fakes on the rise: Knockoffs called "Lafufus" are prevalent in major cities like NYC’s Canal Street, often sold for ~$10. Authentic collectors recommend verifying teeth count and QR‑coded authenticity cards.Wikipedia
  • Regulatory attention & bans: Labubu has faced bans in Russia and Iraq’s Kurdistan over concerns about children's health and behavioral impacts. Sales were suspended in UK and Korean stores due to unrest at product launches.Wikipedia

đź”® Final Take

Pop Mart’s Labubu is no longer just a toy—it’s a cultural moment, blending collectibility, celebrity influence, and emotional resonance. From blockbuster auctions and fashion collaborations to planned anime and new drop loops, Pop Mart is doubling down to sustain the craze into 2025 and beyond.

Upcoming highlights to watch:

  • Seventeen + Labubu charity series auction capsules

  • Mid‑2025 anime debut

  • Periodic restocks of existing lines like Exciting Macaron & Big into Energy

Stay tuned for flashing release calendars and surprise drops at Pop Mart channels!

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