Labubu Mania: The Tiny Monster Taking Over Your TikTok Feed and Your Handbag!

From TikTok hauls to celebrity wardrobes, Labubu has evolved into a symbol of chaotic cuteness, collector status, and meme-able mischief. If one thing is for sure, Labubu isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. 

Who Is Labubu?

Labubu is a quirky, elf-like character created by Chinese artist Kasing Lung. She is the standout star of the Monsters universe, inspired by Nordic folklore. She is joined by her friends Zimomo (the tailed leader), Mokoko (a pink cutie with a heart-shaped nose), and Tycoco (Labubu’s skele-bae). In 2019, Labubu gained massive popularity when Lung collaborated with popular surprise box store Pop Mart. Since then, she has become a must-have for handbags worldwide.

Celebrities Love Labubu

BLACKPINK’s Lisa skyrocketed Labubu’s popularity when she confessed her love for the character. Since then, she has been seen hanging from the handbags of Rihanna, Hilary Duff, Dua Lipa, North West, and numerous influencers. From the red carpet to TikTok, Labubu has become the It Girl accessory of 2025.

How To Get A Labubu (If You’re Lucky!)

The bag charms are constantly sold out, so trying to get your hands on a Labubu feels like chasing Eras Tour tickets — exciting, chaotic, and nearly impossible. There are two ways to purchase directly from Pop Mart: 

Pop Mart Website: They restock on Thursdays at 10pm ET. However, mini drops can happen throughout the week, so checking nightly is key.

TikTok Live Drops: Pop Mart runs live streams from 7pm to 3am ET on several official accounts. Small batches of Labubu are released throughout the night. Be fast! Blink, and you'll miss 'em.

Pro tip: These surprise boxes sell out within seconds, so set your alarms, grab a snack, and prepare to camp out for a while.

Accessorizing Your Labubu

Not only are the actual bag charms a hit, but people are also designing outfits, creating car seats, and crafting all sorts of accessories for their Labubu. Some people are dressing the Labubu like themselves, some are emulating the aesthetic they wish they had, and some are showing school spirit with team-inspired outfits. 

Lizzo even has a line in her feature on “Whim Whamiee” about her Labubu’s style: “How you talking s*** ‘bout me / Can’t even out-dress my Labubu...”

The Rise of the “Lafufu”, Resellers, & Labubu Theft

With great popularity comes great... dupe drama. Enter the world of “Lafufu”, a term coined by fans for counterfeit Labubus that have gone viral on TikTok. Some look pretty good while others are hilariously cursed with upside-down faces, bald versions with removable fur, or odd expressions that only a “Lafufu” could pull off.

Resellers have flooded the website, in-person locations, and TikTok live streams, making it even harder to obtain a Labubu. They scoop up the entire stock within seconds and resell the blind boxes for double or triple the retail value. This has turned the hunt for a Labubu into a high-stakes game. 

Because the surprise boxes are so hard to purchase, people have resorted to Labubu theft. Fans have flooded social media with their stories of their Labubus being stolen while in public. This has led to a surprising fate for the “Lafufus”, who are now being embraced as decoy charms, protecting the real Labubus from being stolen. Fans have now resorted to protective cases, twist-lock carabiners, and decoy Lafufus just to flaunt their prized monster safely.

So, if you’re lucky enough to get your hands on a Labubu, keep an eye on your bag! She might disappear faster than you can say “Pop Mart drop!”