They might look a bit scary, but there’s something undeniably cute about them—and they’re making waves online as people scramble to snag a Lovebu.
These adorable pendant toy collectibles are exclusively sold by Pop Mart, a retailer based in China, which makes them quite tricky to obtain. It seems like they vanish from online shelves almost every night.
But what exactly is Lovebu, and why is there such a buzz around it?
Labubu was created by Kasing Lung, an artist from Hong Kong. Drawing inspiration from Scandinavian folklore and the boundless imagination of children, he developed a line of Labubu and larger “monster” figures.
Despite the original Labubu debuting in 2015, its popularity has only surged, outpacing supply even in 2025.
These figures really took off when they were spotted in the designer bags of stars like Rihanna, Dua Lipa, Lisa from Blackpink, David Beckham, Emma Roberts, Hilary Duff, and Kim Kardashian.
Prices for Labubus range from about $21.99 to $39.99, and they often come as plush, stylish pendants with clips. They’re packaged in “blind boxes,” so buyers are in for a surprise when they open them.
Nevertheless, Labubu items consistently sell out on Pop Mart’s site and app.
New stock drops happen weekly on Fridays at 10am, drawing long lines of eager fans, as dozens, sometimes hundreds, take to social media to share their experiences.
Pop Mart recently announced it would pause Labubu sales in the UK due to safety concerns following a customer altercation.
The supply-demand gap is further aggravated by automated “bots” that sweep through Pop Mart’s online store to scoop up new arrivals, buying up significant quantities of Lovebu.
On resale platforms like StockX, rare versions can fetch prices up to $450.
Labubu has received mixed reviews for authenticity. Some consumers are opting for a counterfeit version known as “Lafufu,” which is often cheaper but comes with noticeable production differences.
Pop Mart didn’t respond to inquiries about whether ongoing US-China trade tensions might influence Labubu’s retail pricing.
Meanwhile, social media users are coining their own term, “Labubu-Nomics,” as they share strategies they believe could help beat the bots.
I’ve even started checking third-party sellers with editing tricks, quick clicks, and by tuning into live streams on Amazon and TikTok.
Interestingly, just last month, Pop Mart’s CEO reportedly made $1.6 billion in a single day as American shoppers formed lines for Lovebu, according to Forbes.
