The Labubu Invasion of High Fashion

By Josie Nejame

From TikTok to the front row, Labubu charms are turning heads—and redefining what luxury looks like.

 

They’re tiny. They’re toothy. They’re popping up on TikTok, swinging from Birkins, and making cameos in front rows across Fashion Week. Meet Labubu. …it’s the mischievous monster charm from Chinese toy powerhouse POP MART that’s taken fashion and pop culture by storm. You’re either completely smitten with its chaotic cute charm or you’re simply captivated by the sudden surge of attention surrounding it. Because with Labubu, there’s rarely a middle ground. You’re either in love with the creature or obsessed with figuring out why everyone else is.

The craze first caught fire when Blackpink’s Lisa Manoban was spotted with one several clipped to her Louis Vuitton bag. It was a subtle yet striking mix of street-style whimsy and high fashion edge. At the time, Lisa had just starred in the third season of HBO’s hit series White Lotus and was making headlines for her rumored relationship with Frédéric Arnault, CEO of LVMH watches and Loro Piana and son of Bernard Arnault, billionaire chairman of LVMH. You know the name, the very empire behind Louis Vuitton. Not long after, Rihanna accessorized her LV tote with a Labubu and then came Dua Lipa who is the current face of Chanel, attached one to her Birkin bag. It was fashion whiplash in the best way.

Even Louis Vuitton couldn’t ignore the moment. The brand recently refreshed its charm lineup with plush collectibles like Vivienne Fashionista and the Louis Bear set to come out this summer. It was designed in multiple character versions, from tennis ready to streetwear chic. Each plush with luxe details and price tags hovering around $1,300. But while LV leans into brand nostalgia, Labubu brings something else entirely. It created a sense of surprise, subversion, and emotional resonance that’s harder to replicate.

That resonance is especially visible on TikTok, where unboxings have become a subculture of their own. Scroll for even a few minutes and you’ll find creators filming dramatic reveals, trading rare editions, or ranking their favorites. The blind-box experience taps into the same thrill as pulling a rare trading card. Its equal parts dopamine hit and community building moment. Some Labubus are even resold for double or triple their original price, with “secret editions” sparking bidding wars online. What started as a toy has turned into a collectible economy and for many, a full-blown lifestyle.

Before it became a fashion accessory, Labubu had already built cult status among collectors. POP MART’s “The Monsters: Big Into Energy” series features six vinyl-faced plush figures, each hidden in a blind box with a rare “secret edition” appearing just once in every 72 boxes. Standing 6.69 inches tall and made from premium materials finished with non-toxic paint, each Labubu is as well-crafted as it is unpredictable. And the global obsession has turned into serious business: Wang Ning, POP MART’s founder, is now one of China’s youngest billionaires, reportedly worth $22.1 billion.

Still, Labubu isn’t just about hype. It’s hitting something deeper for much of its buyers. We’ve been charming our bags since the early 2000s, when logo tags and luxe tassels were the go-to. But Labubu isn’t about showing off polish. It’s about letting a little weirdness peek through. In a world where the headlines don’t stop and personal stress often runs high, this small, strange figure somehow makes sense. I once had a therapist explain a concept called inner child work, which encourages people to reconnect with joy, softness, and care through something as simple as a stuffed animal. It was about nurturing the playful parts of yourself that adulthood tends to silence. These days, I see that idea playing out on the arms of fashion insiders,  clipped to a five-figure handbag and walking into VIP lounges. It’s a reminder subtle or not, that we can still lead with curiosity, joy, and just the right touch of chaos, even when the world asks us to do the opposite.

Labubu isn’t rebellion, it’s a reframe. It’s a wink. It’s a reminder that luxury can be lighthearted, that self-expression doesn’t have to be serious, and that joy can absolutely hang from your shoulder strap. You don’t need to be obsessed with the monster itself to feel the pull. You might just be responding to the cultural moment it represents. It’s a playful, nostalgic, slightly chaotic symbol of what it means to live beautifully in an overwhelming world. Because sometimes, the smallest accessory says the most, especially when it dares to be different.