Labubus Caused 'Bedlam' At Art Basel – Here's Why Cher, RuPaul, And Dua Lipa Are All Obsessed With Them

Labubu at Paris Fashion WeekPer The Art Newspaper, some of the hottest bids at this year’s art Basel weren’t for a sculpture or painting.Instead, they say, the first fifty limited-edition Art Basel Labubu toys sold out in 20 minutes flat, causing “bedlam”. Soon after, the publication claimed, “a would-be Labubu flipper yelled that he would be willing to resell his for $5,000 in cash.”Sure, it’s nothing to the multimillion-dollar Hockney sale that seems to have led the fair.But why were collectors vying for a “slightly sinister-looking” toy to begin with – and why have celebs like Cher, Rihanna, David Beckham, Kim Kardashian, RuPaul (he dubbed his the “LaRuRu,” of course), and Dua Lipa been seen with them too? Matter of fact, what is a Labubu anyway?@rupaulofficial♬ original sound - RuPaulWhat’s a Labubu?Labubus (Labubi?) are small, toothy toys that have exploded in global popularity recently.They are most often seen clipped to bag straps as a grotesque-chic charm. They were invented by artist Kasing Lun as part of his “monsters” collection. Lun told Hypebeast he was inspired to create the toys by “ancient European elf legends”.He added that in his youth, “There were no game consoles or computers, so I had to draw dolls with a pen, so I had the idea of painting fairy tales since I was a child.”The name doesn’t seem to mean anything in particular. He told Hypebeast that “A lot of the characters’ names, like Zimomo’s [another character in the Monsterverse], are made up by my daughter.” In 2019, he signed with toy giant Pop Mart, which helped to boost the nine-toothed toy’s profile.It seems the Basel bids may have more precedent than you’d expect, too – per The Art Gorgeous, Lun’s original illustrations had previously sold for HK $330,200 at auction.A man wears three Labubu plush toys in the NYC Pride MarchSo... why is everyone so obsessed with Labubus?Speaking to HuffPost UK, Mandy Saven, a content director at consumer trends publication Stylus, said: “The Labubu doll has captured consumers’ imaginations through blind boxes, limited runs and exclusive releases, galvanising a sense of rarity and exclusivity.”She added that “Social media hype turbocharged the Labubu appeal, and then algorithms did the rest.” Whether this appeal will last long-term, she adds, depends on how the brand handles their newfound global fame. “If Labubu can tap into consumers’ desire for nostalgia, reassurance and joy in these troubled times, the brand has a good chance of sticking around for some time,” she shared.“Furthermore, the ‘lottery’ style of acquisition – what’s in my blind box? Will I get the doll I desperately want? – provides a hit of dopamine that consumers are craving. ”Additionally, Labubus speak to customers across age brackets, Saven said (see its celeb appeal). “Of course, Labubu needs to be careful not to flood the market with too much availability – the toy needs to retain its ‘designer’ edge and its shade of ‘safe weirdness’ to sustain in the longer term,” she ended. Related...This Man's 'UK-Themed' Snack Box Is Going Viral For Its, Er, Questionable InclusionsDon't Throw Old Toys Away. Here's What To Do InsteadI Tried 'Plogging,' The Eco-Friendly Running Trend – And I'll Never Do It Again

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