Labubus? What to know about the viral toy and where to find them in the Triangle

They’re small, expensive, slightly creepy, and taking over the internet.

Welcome to the world of Labubus.

Despite being more than a decade old, Labubus have catapulted to popularity in the past few months. Most of this is due to TikTok, where videos of Labubu collectors have gone viral.

So if someone in your life has been hounding you for a Labubu, you’re inspired after seeing Rihanna with one, or this is the first time you’re hearing of them, we have everything you need to know

What is a Lababu?

In short, they’re stuffed animals about the size of a cell phone, with soft, fluffy fur and small plastic hands and feet.

Officially, a Labubu is a species of “monster elf” created by Hong Kong-Belgian artist Kasing Lung. Lung wrote a trilogy of Nordic mythology-inspired picture books entitled “The Monsters” in 2015, which featured Labubu, among other characters.

While the books are now largely lost to history, the characters from the series have been turned into toys by Pop Mart, a Chinese-based company.

Each Labubu collection has different color varieties, expressions and accessories.

The “Big Into Energy” set, the most recent collection, has a key ring attachment, which makes it easier to attach to bags and purses. The “Have a Seat” collection includes Labubus with closed eyes that come seated. The “Exciting Macaron” set features dolls in pastel colors.

Despite the stylistic differences, each Labubu has a similar facial composition: round colorful eyes that match the color of the fur, and a large toothy, mischievous grin that spreads across its face.

Why are Lababus so popular?

The Labubus’ mainstream popularity comes from their celebrity owners, including stars like Dua Lipa, Simone Biles and David Beckham. Celebrity Labubus live notably better lives than “normal” Labubus, as they are fashioned in luxury purses and even decked out in designer clothes.

For toy collectors, though, they’re especially popular due to their blind box format, where consumers don’t know what they’re getting until they open the box. There are many versions of blind box toys, from surprise doll sets to action figures found in Kinder Eggs.

In a blind box format, you’re never exactly certain which toy in the collection you’re going to get, and the company purposely manufactures smaller amounts of certain variations to make them rarer and more exclusive.

This turns the purchase of any Labubu into a kind of roulette. In the “Exciting Macaron” collection, there are six possible options to choose from in a given box. However, if you buy two boxes, there’s a chance you’ll end up with two of the same doll. The incentive is to buy more until you complete the entire collection, which could take six boxes or 20 or 100.

Where can you buy Labubus in the Triangle?

The blind box format has contributed to the toys being a hot item. So has their scarceness.

Pop Mart has fewer than 20 locations, and the nearest one to Raleigh is in Washington, DC. There are, however, a few places you can find them in the Triangle.

Two stores at Crabtree Mall carry Labubus: Eloise and Niche & Dime.

But there’s no guarantee there will be any when you go, as stores often run out of stock as collectors and casual fans alike rush to get their own.

Elsewhere in Raleigh, Superior Heat has a weekly restock of Labubus. The sneaker and collectible store pivoted to buying and selling them when the trend blew up on TikTok.

Silven Herrera, the store’s owner, said one might assume that mostly kids and teenagers are buying up the toys. But he said the market is older.

“We don’t see that many younger people,” Herrera said. “I’d say it’s probably from 18 to, like, 40.”

Herrera notes that the limited availability at stores like Eloise and Niche & Dime drives sales at Superior Heat, where they restock weekly and customers can purchase as many toys as they want at a time.

How much do Labubus cost?

Labubus in the Raleigh area retail from $50 to $70, depending on the “series” of the toy, and the rarity if they are purchased out of the box. If you do open a rare one, however, the resale value can skyrocket.

“One time somebody pulled a [rare variety], and I offered her 350 dollars,” Herrera said, “It’s a resale market, and she was like, no, I think I’m gonna keep it.”

How to spot a fake Labubu

Herrera’s store also emphasizes the authenticity of its Labubu products. Buying resale and from non-Pop Mart retailers also runs the risk of purchasing a fake Labubu.

Known as a “Lafufu,” some of these have obvious defects that make them distinct from authentic Labubus, but others have less noticeable flaws. Superior Heat buys from resellers who buy Pop Mart-authenticated products, Herrera says, which can be checked through receipts and a QR code on each Labubu that redirects to the Pop Mart website.

Like other popular products like Stanley Cups and Funko Pop figures, Herrera said “People right now are just trying to get in on the trend.”

This story was originally published July 18, 2025 at 5:45 AM.