If you’ve found yourself asking, “What the heck is Labubu, and why are people paying rent-level money for it?” you’re not alone.
Labubu is one of the latest internet obsessions, courtesy of Pop Mart. It’s a vinyl toy with wild eyes, huge ears, and a grin that says it’s definitely up to something.
Created by artist Kasing Lung, Labubu has become a collectible for hype beasts, toy collectors, and people who need a little chaos goblin on their shelf.
And listen, no judgment.
We’ve both been there. We used to chase trends, collect “limited editions,” and buy things just because they were buzzy or felt exclusive. The dopamine hit was real. But the aftermath? Not so great.
That’s when we realized something had to change.
What is Labubu, + Why is Everyone Talking About It?
Labubu is part of a designer toy series by Pop Mart, best known for their blind box collectibles. You don’t know which version you’re going to get until you open the box. (Yes, it’s adorable gambling.)
Labubu comes in all sorts of costumes and themes, and the rarer versions resell for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars.
You can even buy clothes for these designer toys!
There are TikTok unboxings. Reddit threads are full of trades and flexes. People are setting alarms for new drops.
It’s a frenzy, and it’s working.
But here’s the thing: hype culture doesn’t stop with toys. It’s everywhere. And it feeds off one thing: FOMO.
Our Breakup With Collecting (+ the Wake-Up Call)
There was a time when we prided ourselves on what we owned. We had shelves full of collectibles, cabinets stuffed with “maybe we’ll use this” items, and a garage that could’ve doubled as a storage unit for impulse buys.
Just ask me (shannon) about my plethora of Eiffel Towers back in the day. Ridiculous!
It wasn’t until we downsized that we saw it for what it was: noise.
The stuff wasn’t adding value to our lives.
It was distracting us from the things that mattered: freedom, space, calm, and the ability to say yes to adventures without checking if we had room for more.
We didn’t want to spend our time organizing, dusting, or storing things we barely used. So we stopped.
Hype Culture Thrives on Insecurity
Let’s call it what it is: hype culture plays mind games.
It tells you that you’re missing out if you don’t get the thing. That you’ll feel more fulfilled once you have it. That buying it makes you part of something.
And maybe, for a second, it works. But then it fades, and you’re left chasing the next shiny object. Again.
We started asking: What are we trying to fill with this stuff? And could we feel better, longer, by doing something instead of buying something?
Spoiler: yes.
Why We Choose Real-Life Adventures Instead
We took that time and money and started saying yes to experiences.
A hike on a Tuesday afternoon. Coffee dates on the porch. Last-minute road trips.
Replacing “Add to Cart” with “Let’s go somewhere.”
We’re not anti-fun. We’re just pro-living. And honestly?
We’ve never once looked back and wished we’d bought a vinyl toy instead of jumping into a lake or watching the sunrise from a kayak.
Not Shaming, Just Offering a Different Lens
If Labubu brings someone absolute joy, great. You do you. But if you’re starting to feel like your stuff is owning you, or you’re collecting because you don’t want to miss out, we’ve been there.
And we want you to know there’s another way.
You don’t need a shelf full of hype. You need moments that mean something.
Want to Break Up With the Stuff, Too?
We’ve written a few things that might help:
- How to Downsize Your Life Without Losing Your Mind
- Why We Take Our Meetings Outside (+ Other Tiny Outdoor Habits)
- The Cost of Clutter: Too Much Stuff, Not Enough Space
Collect memories, not merch.
Something to Think About Before the Next Drop
Trends come and go. But your peace of mind? That’s worth more than anything sitting in a surprise box.
You may also enjoy trying out our 30-Day Declutter Challenge to begin getting rid of the tchotchkes like the Labubu. Just sayin’.
FAQs| Frequently Asked Questions
Labubu tends to have more expressive, almost chaotic energy compared to other Pop Mart characters like Molly or Bunny. It’s part of The Monsters series, which leans more into fantasy and folklore.
Nope. Like most mass-produced vinyl collectibles, Labubu figures are made from plastic and aren’t biodegradable. For those of us trying to reduce our footprint, they’re not the most sustainable purchase.
Because many Labubu releases are limited editions, demand outweighs supply. That creates urgency (and sometimes chaos) during drops. Some people even use bots to increase their chances of scoring one before they sell out.
