What Labubu’s Viral Moment Reveals About the Fashion Industry’s Blind Spots

After Laopu, a second name from China is challenging the world’s biggest luxury houses—Labubu, the plush-faced character from Pop Mart, and the cultural storm it’s unleashed.

Once a niche collectible in China’s booming designer toy market, Labubu has now infiltrated the spaces luxury brands have long vied for—celebrity spotlights, viral street-style photos, front-page headlines, and the precious wallets of Gen Z consumers. Its unexpected rise forces fashion’s elite to confront a difficult truth: they’ve been beaten at their own game—by a toy they didn’t see coming.

Mismatched but Magnetic

Labubu has been around since 2019, tucked away in Pop Mart’s line-up of blind-box characters. It had a loyal fan base, but never truly broke through. That changed when K-pop superstar Lisa clipped a fuzzy Labubu to her Hermès Constance Mini. The internet noticed. So did Rosé, Thai royalty, Rihanna, and Beckham—sparking a global chain reaction.

Suddenly, a 99 RMB ($14) keychain looked right at home beside a $10,000 handbag. Its mischievous grin and shaggy body clashed with Hermès’ polished perfection—but the contrast worked. Like prosciutto wrapped around melon, it felt oddly balanced. The image didn’t parody luxury—it refreshed it.

That moment redefined Labubu, not as a toy, but as a fashion accessory—one with emotional power that traditional luxury, with its obsession over legacy and authorship, often lacks.

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