The Labubu effect has also taken Italy by storm

David Beckham, Kim Kardashian, Chiara Ferragni, Marcus Thuram and many other celebrities are going crazy for Labubu, the dolls with a controversial look that have been popular worldwide for some time now, both on social media and in real life.

By now it’s clear: the “Labubu effect” has also arrived in Italy, especially among younger people, driven by popularity on platforms like TikTok and Instagram and also by endorsements from international celebrities.

Discovering Labubu: how they were born and what they remind us of

These dolls were created by designer Kaising Lung, who developed them within his book series “The Monsters”. Their global success grew thanks to the “Big Into Energy” collection, in collaboration with the POPMART brand, which features six brightly colored characters, each identifying an emotion or positive trait (love, hope, serenity, luck, happiness, loyalty).

Today, there are 300 variants of Labubu, with a fairly high average price. Many may be reminded of the Furby distributed by Hasbro back in 1998: after more than 20 years, a very similar product has come back into vogue, in a dynamic that recalls the “nostalgia trend” in the fashion world.

The generations going crazy for Labubu

Labubu are appreciated by a wide range of people, including young adults, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, girls and people with an urban, city lifestyle. They are chosen by art toy collectors, cartoon lovers, Asian pop culture enthusiasts and those seeking original and fun display objects.

A characteristic that makes them attractive is their sales method, often in “blind boxes”, closed boxes that don’t reveal the content and therefore the doll that will be found inside.

Do you already have a Labubu or are you thinking of buying one?