Labubu was made popular primarily through a collaboration between its creator, Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, and the Chinese toy company Pop Mart. Kasing Lung introduced Labubu in 2015 as part of his story series inspired by Nordic folklore. The toy gained wider recognition and surged into a global phenomenon around 2019 when Pop Mart started producing and marketing Labubu in sealed "blind box" packaging. Labubu's popularity soared further in 2024 after Thai- born K-pop superstar Lisa posted photos with Labubu dolls on Instagram, drawing attention from other celebrities like Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, and David Beckham. This global celebrity endorsement, combined with Pop Mart's extensive retail network and catchy blind box marketing, made Labubu highly sought after worldwide. The character’s unique design, described as an elf- like monster with a creepy-cute aesthetic, and its emotional appeal as an anti-perfectionist symbol also contributed to its broad popularity.
