Everyone by now has heard of the notorious Labubu, the collector’s item that has taken the internet by storm as of late 2024. Although Labubus seem to be fairly new in the United States, have they already become overrated?
It is true that Labubus became popular in the United States earlier this year; however, their popularity actually dates back further than that. They were first created by a man named Kasing Lung, who drew Labubus as little monsters in an illustrated book series called “The Monsters,” back in 2015. After he partnered with the toy company Pop Mart, the Labubu was born and gained significant popularity in China in 2022. Since then, Labubus popularity has spread and is now the biggest fad as of 2025.
Since Labubus’ growth in popularity, it has also gained a lot of criticism. Labubus have become very controversial; lately, there seem to be many different conversations about this topic springing up.
One of the main critiques is how expensive Labubus are. As of recently, the price of Labubus has decreased, but they still range from $20-$40. For the price that Labubus cost, they most definitely are not worth it.
However, that issue could go further than just being overpriced. Consumerist trends like Labubus have a notorious pattern for specifically targeting higher-class citizens. Therefore, only higher-class citizens can partake in the trend. This creates an even bigger rift between social classes, especially in today’s political climate.
Overconsumption is another critique of Labubus. Similar to the classism statement, Labubus are nothing but a trend that one day will die out. When it does, it will become just another piece of plastic that ends up in the ocean. When individuals continue to give in to capitalist trends like this, it not only leads to resource depletion because of the excess use of plastic, but also to pollution.
However, the negative reactions to Labubus do not do as much justice as intended. The negative reactions to Labubus have caused individuals to go as far as sending death threats to people who have bought a Labubu. Trends like these are harmful, and conversations like these are important. However, it is not inherently wrong to give in to trends like this, and it does not make someone a bad person.
So, are Labubus overrated? Intentionally or not, Labubus have indirectly resulted in classism and overconsumption. However, giving into a trend isn’t wrong in itself, and people should feel free to spend their money however they wish. But, do keep in mind the harmful connotations that come with trends like Labubus and how just by spending a little less, you can help clean our ocean and save the environment.
