New Labubu trend proves the craze has gone way too far

“If I lost one I’d feel sad - they’re a part of me at this point."

The world has officially gone mad. Mad about a little monster plushie known as the Labubu. 

 

 

If you have a tween or teen child, chances are you've heard a lot about them already. Or maybe you're even housing a few already.

The monster fuzzies, which were created by Hong Kong designer Kasing Lungare and often seen dangling off designer handbags of celebrities around the globe, are now so in demand that there has been a rise in thefts.

A rise in thefts means people are now forced to consider insuring their precious little toys. Trust me, I also wish this were fake news!

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Labubus are just as precious as a designer handbag now. Image: Supplied

Protect your Labubu at all costs

According to a new report from travel insurance company, PassportCard, one in three Millennials or Gen Zers have considered taking out travel insurance to protect their precious Labubu when travelling abroad.  

But don't go calling THEM crazy. The trend of protection is on the rise, with many believing Labubus will be a huge target as people head over to Europe to enjoy the summer, which in fact makes those wanting to protect their plushies as the smart ones. 

“It might seem ridiculous to insure a toy, but it speaks volumes about how emotionally invested people are in what they pack,” PassportCard Australia chief Peter Klemt said.

“When you consider some Labubus are now selling for nearly $1,000 on resale sites, it makes sense why they want to protect them.”

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We can thank TikTok for the Labubu craze. Image: Supplied

Labubu megafan fan, Olivia Bubalao, admitted she was one of those people who took out insurance during a recent three-week trip to Europe to protect her precious toy.

“I’ve been hearing about many people having theirs stolen and so I did some research and, once I found an insurance package that included my Labubu in personal items of value, then it was a no-brainer,” the 24yo told the Daily Telegraph,

Fellow collector, Rachael Clayton, also revealed that she did the same thing and took out a $150 insurance package to protect her seven Labubus.  

“If I lost one on a trip I’d feel sad, especially nowadays with how hard they were to get and how long ago I bought them – they’re a part of me at this point,” she told the publication. 

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What is a Labubu? And why does everyone want one? 

These "cute ugly" toys are marketed and distributed by Chinese toy company Pop Mart as collectable toys, pushing the ideology that shoppers need to have them all, like Jellycats and Funko Pops before them.

But, what’s really caused them to blow up is the fact that their identities are hidden behind their cardboard boxes.

This blind box format has been the basis of so many viral videos, with influencers purchasing boxes and boxes of them in the hopes of getting the one they really want. And, when they fail, they’ll buy more and more.

Since Pop Mart arrived in Sydney, Aussies have been spotted on TikTok sharing endless experiences of getting to stores just after midnight, scouring all the entries to ensure they have the quickest path to the goods, and preparing to drop any amount of money possible, only to still miss out at the last hurdle.

The problem now is, if you miss out, you're an outcast... or you're so desperate that you'll consider resorting to stealing it off someone who was lucky to nab one. 

Originally published as New Labubu trend proves the craze has gone way too far