Labubu Takes the Spotlight: How a Collectible Plush Became Fashion’s New Obsession
In a fashion era where streetwear collaborates with luxury maisons, and anime influences the runway, the emergence of Labubu, a mischievous, wide-eyed plush toy from the art toy world, as a fashion icon should surprise no one—but it still does.
What started as a collectible figure by Hong Kong-based art toy studio POP MART, created by the mysterious artist duo The Monsters, has now transcended fandom and entered the cultural zeitgeist. Labubu’s distinct expression, fanged smile, and wiry posture have made it not just a staple for collectors but a high-fashion accessory spotted in the front rows of fashion week, on the arms of celebrities, and even interpreted into wearable art.
This isn’t just a cute craze—it’s a cultural shift. And it’s happening faster than most of the fashion industry was prepared for.
Fashion / Jae.D / October 20, 2025
Who or What is Labubu?
Labubu is part of the The Monsters series designed by Kasing Lung, a Belgian-Chinese illustrator whose surreal and whimsical creatures have become cult favorites in the designer toy community. The character of Labubu—a small goblin-like figure with jagged teeth, large eyes, and pointy ears—first debuted as a figure in the early 2010s.
Originally beloved in niche circles, Labubu gained traction through POP MART’s blind box toy releases, sparking a wave of collectors across Asia, particularly in China, Japan, Thailand, and South Korea. Much like Be@rbrick or Dunny, Labubu was initially seen as part of the vinyl toy and streetwear crossover world, but it has now fully breached the realm of fashion symbolism.
Unlike traditional plush toys, Labubu exudes a blend of mystery and mischief—less kawaii, more chaotic charm. This contradiction is at the heart of its mass appeal, especially among fashion-forward Gen Z consumers.
From Street to Catwalk: Labubu’s Fashion Ascent
What makes Labubu’s rise particularly interesting is how seamlessly it has integrated into fashion culture. We’ve seen the evolution of Hello Kitty, Pokémon, and even Care Bears into fashion—but Labubu’s aesthetic is different: more punk, more surreal, less obviously commercial.
The turning point came when Chinese celebrities and influencers began carrying oversized Labubu plush dolls or featuring them in photoshoots. Stars like Jackson Wang, Zhou Yutong, and Ouyang Nana have flaunted their Labubu companions during fashion week, while stylists began to use the toy as a visual anchor in luxury street-style looks.
Pop Mart has done brand tie-ins, including a POP MART × Uniqlo UT “The Monsters” collection, featuring Labubu imagery on T‑shirts.
It’s no longer about carrying a toy; it’s about curating a style identity around one.
The Emotional Connection: A Character for the Unpredictable Generation
In many ways, Labubu’s popularity is not purely visual—it’s emotional. We are in an era where fashion consumers are looking for characters that represent chaos, ambiguity, and whimsy—all characteristics embodied by Labubu.
Unlike traditional mascots, Labubu isn’t aspirational in a clean-cut way. It’s not perfect, polished, or symmetrical. Its jagged teeth and mischievous stare evoke something more primal—an acknowledgment that beauty isn’t always tidy.
For Gen Z and younger Millennials who came of age in uncertain times, Labubu is a totem: playful, disruptive, slightly creepy, and defiantly cute. In a word, it’s relatable.
Labubu has become part of the “comfort-core” meets “chaos-core” aesthetic—where plushies, soft fabrics, and distorted cartoon figures provide both a return to childhood safety and a reflection of current social anxieties. And in fashion, this manifests in plush handbags, oversized silhouettes, asymmetrical accessories, and the re-embrace of fantasy.
Labubu and the Power of Cultural Crossovers
The toy’s rise in the fashion world also signals a broader shift: the increasing dominance of Chinese creative exports in global culture. Labubu is not a Western character—it’s distinctly East Asian in origin, concept, and rollout. POP MART’s clever use of social media, exclusive drops, and blind box mechanics have generated hype reminiscent of Supreme or Nike SB releases.
By aligning Labubu with fashion brands, streetwear houses, and even makeup collections, POP MART has tapped into an aesthetic ecosystem where exclusivity meets emotional attachment. This strategy has made Labubu especially potent as a fashion meme—adaptable, remixable, and loaded with cultural capital.
Some of the more innovative recent integrations include:
Runway appearances in pop-up shows during Shanghai Fashion Week
Custom Labubu handbags designed by young fashion students in Seoul
TikTok styling videos in which influencers match their OOTDs to specific Labubu variants (including pirate, astronaut, punk rocker, etc.)
The flexibility of Labubu as a character is what makes it ideal for the fluid world of fashion—a world increasingly shaped by memes, collectibles, and visual storytelling.
A Plush for the Postmodern Closet
Perhaps the most surprising part of Labubu’s ascent is its role as a fashion object, not just a toy. In concept stores and curated boutiques, Labubu figures are placed alongside sculptural handbags and avant-garde footwear. It’s being viewed with the same reverence once reserved for niche designer collabs.
Fashion houses are taking notice. Rumors swirl about a potential high-fashion collaboration, possibly with a global luxury name like Maison Margiela or Rick Owens, both of which share Labubu’s love for subversive aesthetics. If such a collaboration emerges, Labubu will become more than just a trend—it will be fashion history.
In Tokyo, concept retailer GR8 reportedly sold out its Labubu-inspired varsity jackets within minutes. In Hong Kong, underground artists are remixing Labubu’s face into streetwear prints. And in Paris, stylists are beginning to incorporate Labubu accessories into editorials for indie fashion magazines.
What Labubu Teaches Us About Fashion in 2024
At its heart, Labubu’s emergence in the fashion world is a reminder that identity is playful, contradictory, and ever-changing. In an industry often obsessed with prestige and hierarchy, Labubu breaks through with chaos, charm, and childlike rebellion.
Fashion in 2024 is deeply influenced by collectibility, cultural nostalgia, and the need for emotional texture. Labubu ticks all those boxes—and more. It’s fashion’s answer to overstimulation: a soft, strange, beloved gremlin that refuses to be categorized.
As fashion continues to democratize, we may find more characters like Labubu stepping out of pop culture and into our wardrobes. The future of fashion might just be plush, unpredictable, and smiling with sharp little teeth.
Note: All images copyrighted by the author.
“Collection UT POP MART” — Official collaboration page between UNIQLO and POP MART featuring Labubu.
LABUBU × PRONOUNCE – WINGS OF FANTASY Vinyl Plush Doll.
“Fashionable People on Their Labubu Obsession” — Vogue article about how fashion insiders are embracing Labubu.