New Labubu dolls coming to Pop Mart Friday amidst global craze

(KRON) – As the Labubu doll craze intensifies, Pop Mart is releasing one-of-a-kind dolls.

With the success of THE MONSTERS Big into Energy, Pop Mart is expanding the line with the Rock the Universe Vinyl Plush Doll. This release has the IP’s first long-fur vinyl plush doll. The toy store says that due to the high-complexity gradient dyeing technique, no two dolls will be the same. 

The Labubu, by artist and illustrator Kasing Lung, first appeared with pointed ears and pointy teeth, in three picture books inspired by Nordic mythology in 2015.

In 2019, Lung struck a deal with Pop Mart, a company that caters to toy connoisseurs and influencers, to sell Labubu figurines. But it wasn’t until Pop Mart started selling Labubu plush toys on key rings in 2023 that the toothy monsters suddenly seemed to be everywhere.

Labubus have gained so much popularity recently that there are now bootleggers selling fakes. 

There are three POP MART stores in the Bay Area: Stonestown Galleria in San Francisco, Stoneridge Shopping Center in Pleasanton and Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara. POP MART has several robo shops, which are vending machines, throughout the Bay Area in San Francisco, Fairfield and San Jose.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.