POP MART’S LABUBU CRAZE HITS BEIJING AS MINI TOYS SELL OUT IN HOURS
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Agency Report
Beijing’s shopping districts were abuzz on Friday as fans of Pop Mart’s Labubu dolls flocked to stores following the launch of the latest palm-sized edition of the collectible toys, which sold out online within hours of release.
Labubu, the quirky, fanged creatures produced by Chinese toymaker Pop Mart, have become a global phenomenon, spotted on celebrity handbags from Rihanna to Dua Lipa. Their latest miniature version, priced at about \$11 each, triggered another buying frenzy as collectors scrambled to secure the limited-edition toys.
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Among the lucky buyers was 32-year-old Maki Li, who managed to snag a full box of 14 mini Labubus. “I’m super happy right now,” he said after unboxing them at a Beijing shopping mall. “I’ll hang them in every possible place I can.”
The toys, often sold in “blind boxes” that conceal which model lies inside, have drawn families as well as collectors. Beijing mother Li Jianuo said she spent over 1,000 yuan (\$140) buying multiple boxes as back-to-school gifts for her children. “When they grow up, they will be able to look back at how we scrambled to get it. I think it’s important to have that memory preserved,” she told AFP.
Labubu mania has also caught the attention of officials. Last month, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao cited the dolls as an example of “new forms of consumption and trends” that could help energize China’s sluggish economy.
Fans say the dolls’ “ugly-cute” aesthetic and affordable price point explain their appeal in a tight economy. “People can’t afford the big-ticket items anymore they can’t buy Balenciaga, so they buy Pop Mart instead,” Li said.
For many, the Labubus offer more than just a collectible. “It’s about paying for your own interests. It makes you happy,” said 27-year-old buyer Zhang Jiaru. Li added that wearing them feels “healing” small companions that can last a long time.
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