ALBAWABA - It seems the Labubu craze has not toned down in Hong Kong, as a giant inflatable of Pop Mart's gremlin-like creature was spotted floating on the country's Victoria Harbour.
Other inflatables were also present, featuring well-known characters such as Japanese manga character Doraimon, McDonald's Grimace, and Sesame Street's Elmo. The inflatables were placed as part of a Water Parade event by a Hong Kong-based design studio, 'AllRightsReserved.'
Tourists and residents flocked to the event to take pictures with the inflatable characters. According to the South China Morning Post, while visitors can view and take photos with the inflatables for free, 'Early Bird' limited tickets were sold before the event, which feature a better viewing experience on an elevated platform and an exclusive market that sells products related to the popular characters.
Labubu craze is not over: Giant inflatable takes over Hong Kong
AllRightsReserved's founder stated that the limited tickets were sold out ahead of the event. However, some criticized the event for keeping the market exclusive for ticket buyers.
While the Labubu dolls were first introduced by Hong Kong-based artist Kasing Lung in 2015 as part of his illustration book, "The Monsters," the character only gained traction in 2019 after collaborating with Pop Mart.
Labubu's popularity surged globally in 2024 when celebrities such as Blackpink's Lisa endorsed it by rocking the little furry creature on her bag. Collectors and scalpers would flood Pop Mart's stores and vending machines to purchase an abundance of Labubus in hopes of hitting the jackpot and getting a rare variant of the dolls (similar to people hoarding Pokémon card sets).
Many people who hit the jackpot would resell their rare Labubus for absurd prices on the marketplace. Labubus's success made its founder, Wang Ning, one of China's youngest billionaires.
However, the Labubu craze might be finally over, as the once-viral doll is making fewer appearances on social media by the month.
