Overview

• Global celebrities including Rihanna, David Beckham, Dua Lipa and Blackpink’s Lisa have showcased Labubu, sparking viral fan stories and international media attention.
• Pop Mart’s blind-box strategy and limited releases have pushed resale prices into the hundreds of dollars and fueled in-store rushes, shop brawls and smuggling.
• People’s Daily and President Xi Jinping have highlighted Labubu’s overseas appeal as part of Beijing’s effort to reshape global narratives and improve China’s image.
• Surveys by Morning Consult and Pew show a first-time rise in favorable views of China among U.S. allies and younger demographics coinciding with the doll’s worldwide popularity.
• Designed by Hong Kong–born artist Kasing Lung and backed by partnerships with Disney and Marvel, Labubu reflects Pop Mart’s expansion of cross-cultural collaborations.