Labubu, the snaggle-toothed, bug-eyed imp dreamed up by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, is not your average plushie. With a mischievous grin and wild hair, this oddball from ‘The Monsters’ universe has managed the improbable of turning a doodle into one of the most coveted collectables on the planet.
Image for representational purposes only
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When Pop Mart, China’s blind-box titan, picked up Labubu in 2019, the quirky gremlin went from niche art-world darling to mass-market sensation. The logic was simple to limited runs, unpredictable drops, celebrity shoutouts, and just enough scarcity to fuel secondary-market madness.
And it worked! Labubu figures retailed in the low tens of US dollars at launch. But good luck finding one at that price. Secondary markets reveal the real story that earlier this year, a limited-edition Labubu resale hit roughly INR 9.15 lakh (about USD 10,500). That’s more than a new Tata Punch EV.
The craze isn’t limited to Hong Kong or Beijing hipsters. From Tokyo to London, Labubu has become a cultural passport, attracting queues that stretch around blocks and collectors who treat each blind box like an IPO subscription. Pop Mart has ridden the wave hard, expanding the character across vinyl figurines, plushes, oversized art toys, and tie-ups with galleries and design houses. In short: Labubu isn’t just a toy, it’s an asset class.
And then, just when you thought this vinyl monster couldn’t possibly mutate further, Hindalco shows up with a twist — aluminium, copper and specialty alumina Labubu.
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