Blind Boxes, Big Bucks, and Designer Bags: Labubu Explained
Plus my pro tips on paying for healthcare when your insurance won't
Dear friends,
I had to know—and now I’m sharing what I found out.
Why are Pop Mart’s monster Labubus such a viral sensation? And what’s the deal with the knockoffs known as Lafufus?
Here’s the scoop:
Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung originally created Labubu in his illustrated book series The Monsters. The character’s quirky charm caught on, and a collaboration with Chinese toy giant Pop Mart brought Labubu to life as a plush collectible. The twist? They’re sold in blind boxes, which means you never know which design you’ll get. That mystery adds a thrill—and drives demand.
Some versions are considered “secret” and are ultra-rare and can fetch big money on the resale market. Pop Mart also does limited-edition brand collabs, which only fuels the hype. Fans love styling their Labubus in designer outfits, often clipping them to luxury handbags like mini mascots of fashion-meets-fandom.
Standard size retail cost (if you can find one): approx $28
Secondary Market: The sky’s the limit
In a surprise to no one, celebrities were the key to getting the little monsters to go viral: some notables include Rihanna, various Kardashians, Lisa from Blackpink and The White Lotus and Dua Lipa.
Emma Roberts posted this unboxing video on Instagram
Even Jeff and Lauren Bezos reportedly got in on the action, gifting limited edition ones to their wedding guests.
Here’s where it gets interesting: the fakes are also (somewhat) in demand.. because sometimes people don’t care that much and just want to be part of the trend. Here’s a nice primer on how to spot the difference from WWD.
Labubu vs Lafufu: how to decide
Labubu is the original—a collectible created by artist Kasing Lung and produced by Pop Mart. It comes with high-quality details, official branding, and often, a hefty resale value.
Lafufu is the cheeky knockoff. It mimics the look but skips the premium price tag—and the prestige. The quality is hit or miss, but it’s an affordable way to get the vibe without the investment.
Bottom line:
Go Labubu if you care about authenticity, collecting, and potential resale value.
Go Lafufu if you're just in it for fun, fashion, or a low-stakes trend fix.
Here is a nice explainer with more info from NY Magazine’s The Strategist.
In partnership with
I feel like my family has done it all.. braces for 3 kids, Lasik and even shopping for the perfect mattress for the best night’s sleep. It’s expensive and it is often not fully covered by insurance. I still brace myself for the bills and get stressed out when I go to the doctor, dentist and recently the vet.
Waffles is cute but expensive!
So here’s a little video I made sharing my strategy to get away from stressing out about healthcare costs, get the right information from reliable and trustworthy sources, and make the best choices you can.
What’s really hot this summer: Financial Wellness Workshops
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