They started as quirky, niche figurines cherished by designer-toy fans, but Labubu dolls have surged into the mainstream to become 2025’s must-have plush. Both kids and adults are scrambling to snag an original, fueling midnight bidding wars, black-market trades, and even investigations into potential fakes.
First launched by the Chinese toy company Pop Mart in 2019, following the creation of Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, these fuzzy vinyl plushes have become highly sought after and valuable. Some now fetch thousands, and one thing trumps everything else: authenticity.
