Monsters and memes: Labubu dolls ride China soft-power wave

TikTok paved the way for Labubu’s ascent when it became the first Chinese-branded product to be indispensable for young people internationally. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

UPDATED Jun 20, 2025, 03:36 PM

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SHANGHAI - Small, fuzzy and baring sharp teeth, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart’s Labubu monster dolls have taken over the world, drawing excited crowds at international stores and adorning the handbags of celebrities such as Rihanna and Cher.

Beijing-based Pop Mart is part of a rising tide of Chinese cultural exports gaining traction abroad, furry ambassadors of a “cool” China even in places associated more with negative public opinion of Beijing such as Europe and North America.

Labubus, which typically sell for around US$40 (S$51.40), are released in limited quantities and sold in “blind boxes”, meaning buyers do not know the exact model they will receive.

The dolls are “a bit quirky and ugly and very inclusive, so people can relate”, interior designer Lucy Shitova told AFP at a Pop Mart store in London, where in-person sales of Labubus have been suspended over fears that fans could turn violent in their quest for the toys.

“Now everything goes viral... because of social media. And yes, it’s cool. It’s different.”