I’m a fan of cute, collectable trinkets. Calico Critters, Smiskis and Sonny Angels are among the most popular right now, and rightfully so. They are adorable, pint-sized and certain to brighten up your desk or shelf. However, there is one fad I cannot and will never be able to get behind: the Labubu.
Honestly, the name speaks for itself. A “Labubu?” It even feels foolish coming off the tongue. Labubus are monster-like creatures that are purchased in blind boxes, meaning you don’t know which variant you’ll get. They are fuzzy, doll-like and quite frankly, ridiculously creepy. An ominous smile with pointed teeth, paired with wide eyes and pointed ears, makes for a strange sight.
You’ve more than likely seen one of these monstrosities hanging off a bag or purse, whether in person or in a celebrity photograph. I have not been able to escape Labubus over the past few months and I am sick of them.
Scrolling through TikTok or Instagram Reels will lead you to countless “Labubu unboxings,” with ridiculously exaggerated reactions from creators. As exciting as opening a fuzzy toy as an adult can be, I promise that the screaming from a “good” pull or crying from a “bad” one is unnecessary.
Other than their unattractive appearance, Labubus are also going for unattractive prices. The rarest variants are being listed for thousands of dollars on marketplace sites like eBay, StockX and Mercari. In comparison, a standard blind box sells for around 30 dollars, which I still feel is steep for a creepy ball of fur.
Now, as innocent as the toys themselves may be, the sentiment of purchasing them may actually be monstrous.
Worldwide overconsumption has evolved into a serious problem in recent years. We keep buying and buying things just for the sake of it and then throw them into landfills once we’re sick of them. According to the Global Footprint Network, as of 2023, humanity is consuming resources at a rate 1.75 times faster than Earth can regenerate them. This excessive buying is detrimental to the environment, leading to more pollution, as well as the burning of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions.
Labubus are just the next “thing” we picked up to fuel our consumerist tendencies. The issue has only worsened as we continue to amp up our social media usage. We keep seeing Labubus, so we feel like we need them to keep up with the trends and show off on social media. Consumption has become performative.
Putting the figures in blind boxes makes us want to keep on buying and buying until we unbox the “rarest” characters. And for what? Do we really want them, or just to say that we have them? The scarcity strategy is incredibly harmful to overconsumption.
Like any fad, Labubus’ time will soon be up. We’ll look back on our obsession with the odd creature and laugh, reminiscing on how something so ludicrous could have gained as much hype as it did. However, I think the worldwide obsession with the toy is a warning about our consumer habits; we truly need to be more mindful of our spending. If you are going to buy a trinket or toy, please, at least choose a cute one.
