Labubu was first created by Kasing Lung in “2015” as a part of the “Little Monsters” book series inspired by Nordic mythology. Labubu later evolved into the iconic plush charm we know today after becoming popularized in China before its around the world debut.
Labubu has a style inspired by Nordic elves, with fur bodies, big eyes, and a mischievous grins. Originally, in the book version, they were depicted as an all-female group of forest creatures who offered help to anyone in need. However, many don’t associate them with such a friendly vibe.
The new trend has sparked debates about labubu’s real value. Many people debate whether the labubu is even worth its cost and rise to fame. Some think it’s ugly and unsettling while others believe it’s cute and charming. Even so, people can’t seem to escape from this growing trend that is the labubu. They can commonly be seen by people everyday in blind unboxings, local stores, and even targeted ad recommendations.
The rise of labubu has become a reflection of the ever-growing consumerism that is becoming a common part of everyday life. In Society we consume the “must-have” culture that we’ve grown accustomed to, but many think it’s too hard to keep up with the expensive trends that come and go in what seems like weeks, so what do people think to do “when a ‘must-have’ becomes a “can’t-have?”
Introducing the “Lafufu.”- referring to a poorly made rip-off of the actual Labubu. These rip-offs have even become popularized particularly by social media such as TikTok where many people share their humorous looking “Lafufu” on TikTok, making it an attached staple to the Labubu brand.
As the Labubu continues to dominate the conversation, many have been left wondering: “why do we care so much about things like Labubu?” An answer to that question might just lie in that people like the sense of inclusion that it comes with, Even if you don’t own a labubu, you’re still part of the conversation and the joke.
Additionally, the idea of blind unboxing and finding something cute inside plays into the fact that we are currently in the age of short attention spans and people that will do anything for entertainment, so coming upon something like a Labubu unboxing while doom scrolling makes you stop, wanting to see what may be inside the box and feel that satisfaction of knowing. You may even decide that you want a labubu. Creating this never-ending cycle of consumption.
Labubu has become a broader conversation among parties of why consumerism and trends are such a popular thing in this era. The endless repeats of trends, “must buys” of the month, and quick and done items have been brought to many people’s attention from the craze of Labubu. Why do we feel the need for all these trends and consumerism items and why do we spend endless amounts of money to keep up with them?
For a deeper dive into this topic go see Oliva James’ article on consumerism.