Labubus: A Keychain Craze Gone Too Far?
- deetyasasikumar
- Jul 26, 2025
- 2 min read
If you’ve been on any Social Media platform recently, you may have noticed a unique looking keychain gaining popularity online. The ‘Labubu’ has become an overnight success, but its quick fame has also sparked controversy, questioning if the normalization of overconsumption has been supported by this new trend.
The Labubu was first created in 2015, and joined Pop Mart in 2019. They started to gain small amounts of attention in 2023, but in 2025 they began to skyrocket in sales. The question many are asking is ‘Why now? Why is this toy becoming popular a decade after its release?”. While it could be because of its rather interesting appearance, it is most likely because of your favorite influencers, and the obsession with blind boxes. A blind box is a box with its contents, a mystery. Blind boxes have been relevant for decades. Before Labubu, there was Pokemon, arcade games, and similar toys. It started to become really popular after a member of a K-Pop group called “BlackPink” talked about owning one. From there, Labubu began to make a name for itself.
The Labubu retails for $27.99. Each blind box has a collection of Labubus that could be in it, and these Labubus of different rarities have become a sort of status symbol. Because of their rare and small quantity restocks, as well as customer demand at an all time high, people have resorted to camping outside of PopMart stores. This symbol of status has also been seen on high-fashion bags to add to its prestige. Another reason Labubus have become so sought after is because of special editions they have. This adds to its popularity because it is like winning the Labubu lottery.
Overall, the Labubu is the epitome of what overconsumption can become. People have spent hundreds of dollars and hours to find these coveted toys, hoping to find an exclusive rare Labubu. The issue is how normalized this consumerism has become. The question is, has this keychain craze gone too far?
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