"Everyone is here. The true believers and truly curious, the trend chasers, the nightlife purists, the wannabe influencers, the party crashers, and those who simply want to be seen. It's a celebration of Labubu, the furry Ewok-like collectible that, in an age of fly-by-night TikTok trends, AI influencers, and cheap hype, seems to have become a bona fide phenomenon. Some 250 people aged 18 and up have gathered, unified in their appreciation for their new toy god."
""It's the Labubu rave, baby!" announces John, a 27-year-old law student who is at the party with a group of friends. "I just think that they're really cute," he says. From his backpack he pulls a limited-edition Coca-Cola Labubu and delicately holds it as if it were a trophy, waiting for me to admire it. "I know part of why they are so popular is consumerism. But they're so cute. It's a trend. Things catch on.""
Labubu, a furry Ewok-like collectible conceived in 2015 by Chinese-Dutch artist Kasing Lung, has surged into global popularity over the past year. High demand has been amplified by celebrity endorsements from figures such as Rihanna, BTS, Kim Kardashian, and Naomi Osaka. Fans gather at events and themed raves that draw hundreds, producing an atmosphere of devotion, trend-chasing, and consumer excitement. Attendees include die-hard collectors, casual curiosity-seekers, influencers, and nightlife regulars, all participating in a shared culture around limited editions and branded collaborations. The phenomenon combines cuteness, scarcity, and social visibility to drive continued interest.
Read at WIRED
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