Labubu was created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung and is sold exclusively by Pop Mart, the Chinese collectible toy company. Lung designed the toothy little monster in 2015 for his story series The Monsters, Pop Mart began producing it in 2019, and it became a global craze after Blackpink’s Lisa was seen with one in 2024.
Labubu: Quick Facts
| Creator | Kasing Lung (born 1972), Hong Kong-born, based in Belgium |
| Seller | Pop Mart (exclusive) |
| First introduced | 2015, as part of The Monsters series |
| Pop Mart partnership | 2019 |
| Pop Mart CEO | Wang Ning |
| Format | Mostly blind-box plush figures and keychains |
| Viral moment | April 2024, Lisa of Blackpink |
| Fakes | Counterfeits nicknamed “Lafufu” |
Who Created Labubu?
Labubu was dreamed up by Kasing Lung, an artist born in Hong Kong in 1972 who grew up in the Netherlands and later settled in Antwerp, Belgium. He created Labubu as part of The Monsters, a storybook world inspired by Nordic folklore, and the first figures came out in 2015.
Who Owns Labubu Now?
Pop Mart, a Beijing-based toy company led by CEO Wang Ning, makes and sells Labubu under an exclusive deal with Lung that began in 2019. Most figures are sold in “blind boxes,” so buyers don’t know which version they’re getting until they open it, which is a big part of the appeal.
Labubu has been enormously valuable for Pop Mart. The line brought in about 6.3 billion yuan (roughly $870 million) in the first half of 2024 alone, according to the company’s interim report.
Why Is Labubu So Popular?
The turning point came in April 2024, when K-pop star Lisa of Blackpink was photographed with a Labubu keychain on her bag. The trend took off in Thailand and across Asia, then worldwide. By 2025 there were more than 300 different figures, priced from about $15 to $960, and a 1.2-metre mint-green Labubu sold for $170,000 at an auction in Beijing in June 2025.
How Can You Spot a Fake Labubu?
Counterfeits are so common that they have their own nickname: “Lafufu.” Pop Mart has taken legal action against sellers of fakes. The safest way to buy a genuine Labubu is directly from Pop Mart’s stores, website or app.
Our Take
Labubu is a reminder that a brand doesn’t have to be new to go viral. Kasing Lung’s monster existed for almost a decade before one celebrity photo turned it into a phenomenon, and Pop Mart was ready with the blind-box model that keeps collectors coming back.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Labubu?
Labubu was created by artist Kasing Lung and is made and sold exclusively by Chinese toy company Pop Mart.
Who created Labubu?
Hong Kong-born, Belgium-based artist Kasing Lung created Labubu in 2015 for his series The Monsters.
Is Labubu Chinese?
Labubu is sold by Pop Mart, a Chinese company based in Beijing. Its creator, Kasing Lung, was born in Hong Kong.
Why is Labubu so popular?
Its popularity exploded in 2024 after Blackpink’s Lisa was seen with a Labubu, combined with Pop Mart’s collectible blind-box format.
Sources
Sources and Editorial Notes
Elivestory aims to use relevant sources, separate confirmed information from speculation and update important details when reliable new information becomes available.
Jaylin Khan
Jaylin Khan is an entertainment writer at elivestory.com who covers celebrity biographies, entertainment news, digital media and the latest pop culture trends. Drawing information from credible and trusted sources, she combines verified facts with thoughtful opinions to create engaging and informative articles for readers.
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