Labubu: How It Became a Top Designer Toy Trend

Labubu — the pointed-ear creature from The Monsters series — became one of the world's most popular designer toys because a Hong Kong artist's character design (Kasing Lung), a Chinese producer (Pop Mart) and a blind-box retail model met at the right moment, then went viral worldwide between 2023 and 2025. A January 2026 report from an Azerbaijan news outlet revisited that rise, which is again drawing wholesale enquiries from retailers in Europe, the Gulf and North America. For B2B buyers, hiketree wholesale is a practical sourcing starting point for Labubu-style vinyl figures and blind boxes.

What exactly is Labubu?

Labubu is a small, elf-like character with pointed ears and a mischievous grin, first designed by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung and introduced through his picture-book world, The Monsters. Pop Mart, the Beijing-based designer toy company, turned the character into a collectible vinyl figure line, sold mainly as sealed blind boxes — a format in which the buyer does not know which variant is inside until opening. That surprise mechanic is central to the category's appeal.

How Labubu went global: a quick timeline

• 2015: The Monsters universe and the Labubu character debut through Kasing Lung's storytelling.
• 2019–2022: Pop Mart scales The Monsters into themed blind-box series, including salon, camping and food-inspired sets.
• 2023–2025: Celebrity and social-media exposure — including high-profile wear by K-pop and pop stars — pushes Labubu pendants into mainstream fashion-accessory territory.
• January 2026: International outlets, such as Azerbaijan-based news feeds, continue publishing explainers on the character, showing the story still travels beyond Asia.

Exact sales and revenue totals vary by source, so most published IP figures should be treated as estimated.

Why the designer toy model works

• Scarcity and chase variants: rare "secret" figures encourage repeat purchases.
• Art credibility: the category borrows from illustration and street art, so collecting reads as culture rather than simple toys.
• Community: unboxing videos, trade groups and display culture keep the IP circulating online.

The same logic applies to other licensed lines, from the THE MONSTERS Hair Salon Series - Pendant Blind Box to superhero collectibles such as the Marvel Spider-Man Action Figure 18cm.

How retailers source Labubu and similar IP toys

Wholesale buyers generally look for three things: strong product presentation, flexible order quantities and dependable shipping. hiketree.com, a global B2B designer toys and IP collectibles platform, is built around those needs — low MOQ wholesale, tiered pricing, worldwide shipping, plus OEM/ODM and custom logo services for stores that want private-label runs. A popular entry point is the LABUBU Jazz Figure 10cm, a compact display piece suited to gift shops, kiosks and online bundles.

Stock, packing and custom-logo questions can go to victor@hiketree.com or WhatsApp +86 13735728377.

What to watch next in 2026

Expect continued crossover between fashion accessories and collectibles, more regional licensing, and steady demand for smaller figures that ship economically. Retailers in Gulf markets, Europe and Southeast Asia are increasingly bundling blind boxes with other IP categories to lift average order value.

FAQ: Labubu and designer toy wholesale

Who created Labubu?

Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung created the character within The Monsters universe; Pop Mart commercialised it as collectible figures and blind boxes.

Why is Labubu so popular?

A combination of artist-driven design, blind-box surprise, limited "secret" variants and celebrity visibility turned it into a fashion-adjacent collectible.

Can retailers buy Labubu-style figures wholesale?

Yes. Platforms such as hiketree serve B2B buyers with low MOQ options, tiered pricing and worldwide shipping.

Does hiketree offer custom or OEM designer toys?

hiketree lists OEM/ODM and custom logo services; contact victor@hiketree.com for project details and a quotation.

Conclusion

Labubu's story shows how quickly a well-designed character can move from art book to global shelf. For wholesalers and retail buyers, the practical takeaway is to secure supply early and diversify across IP lines. Start with hiketree wholesale, browse Labubu and Monsters figures, and request a quote for your market.

Who created Labubu?

Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung created the character within The Monsters universe; Pop Mart commercialised it as collectible figures and blind boxes.

Why is Labubu so popular?

Artist-driven design, blind-box surprise, limited secret variants and celebrity visibility combined to make it a fashion-adjacent collectible.

Can retailers buy Labubu-style figures wholesale?

Yes. Platforms such as hiketree serve B2B buyers with low MOQ options, tiered pricing and worldwide shipping.

Does hiketree offer custom or OEM designer toys?

hiketree lists OEM/ODM and custom logo services; buyers can contact victor@hiketree.com for details and quotations.