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International Business Times
International Business Times
Business

Monsters And Memes: Labubu Dolls Ride China Soft-power Wave

Labubu dolls on display at the Pop Land theme park in Beijing (Credit: AFP)

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.

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