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Labubu Doll Craze in India – Why Are Adults Spending Thousands on Toys?

  • Writer: Neha Kumari
    Neha Kumari
  • Jul 14
  • 3 min read
“Smiling young adult taking a selfie while holding a Labubu doll, showing emotional connection with collectibles.”
“Smiling young adult taking a selfie while holding a Labubu doll, showing emotional connection with collectibles.”

They’re small.


They are a bit spooky.


They are sure adorable.


And they are selling like hot-cakes in the Indian malls, pop-up stores even in black markets.

It is time to enter the world of Labubu dolls the latest addiction of adults, collectors, and


TikTokers who want to follow the trends.


What is a Labubu Doll?


Labubu belongs to the assortment of the designer toys called The Monsters created by Kasing Lung, and manufactured by Pop Mart, a well-established company playing with toys in China.


There are its devilish grin, its sharp teeth, its large eyes, its scruffy fur hair that makes Labubu appear out of a freak dream, and that is precisely what makes it adorable.


The toys belong in the blind-box culture (so customers have no idea which version of the character they would receive until they open it).


What is the Reason Adults are Spending up to 3,000 Rupees-25,000 Rupees on Them?


It is not only a toy, it is a collectible.


Labubu dolls are rare, eccentric, without initiative, thus they fit perfectly well into the hands of the collector who lives on the principle of rarity and unpredictability.


Citizens are queuing up in the retailing outlets or even paying tripled rates to purchase online as a way of obtaining the rarest of these designs in stores, many of whom resale on later dates, which is the source of lucrative returns.


A nostalgic, FOMO and status, dream combination.


The Tik Tok & Reel Effect


Whether you logged on to TikTok or Instagram recently, you have probably come across the following trend:


Unboxing Labubu. Ranking Your Labubu collection. Decorating clothes that suit your doll. ASMR openings.


This number is earning millions of views, and thus Labubu is not a toy but a trend of content.


The viral it is, the greater urge people tend to join in, despite not knowing the reasons.


The Psychology of Being Addicted To Being and Adult


Come on, it is not only about Labubu.


Toys provide an element of stability, certainty and help shape a healthy childhood in the increasingly hectic world.


Labubu prompts emotional nostalgia a flashback to the good old days where all that was required in happiness was small boxes.


And the Gen Z and Millennials have been brought up on Pokemon, Barbie, Beyblades and Beanie Babies.


It is not only amusing to collect but also collecting is a coping strategy and a demonstration of identity and belonging to a niche culture.


Blind Boxes Hype Economy


Labubu dolls are exploiting some kind of booming industry, blind box marketing.


You never know which doll will be yours, and this makes dopamine hit right away. You just do not want to miss on that one rare piece.


It is no less than loot boxes in video games or even gambling.

It is seductive, heart touching and a business genius.


Is It a Fad?


Maybe.


Maybe not.


Similar to Funko Pops or Squishmallows Labubu may be a fad that will fizzle. Yet, at this point, it is the insignia of aesthetic 2025, adorable mess and staged strangeness.


And until people feel seen, stylish or even a little bit more like them, the obsession is not going to stop.


What Are People Buying Them Where?


  • Pop Mart outlets (in big malls in India presently)

  • It will be sold online through Flipkart, Amazon and Meesho resellers

  • Instagram sellers, who are located in a foreign country, or groups of collectors

  • Infrequent drops through Pop Mart app ( devoted players)

  • The prices fluctuate out of control with rarity levels as certain dolls may resell between 10,000 rupees and higher depending on the level of rarity.


Last reflection: Pretty, pervy and culturally aware


Labubu is not toy only, it is also a mirror.


Of our inner child, of our need to be comforted and reassured, of our preference to the aesthetics based on oddities and our desire to fit in an age that promotes trends.


Regardless of whether you love, hate, or fail to see the hype around this topic, one of the things remains true:


Labubu has joined chat.


It is here to stay.


📅 By News Anek Digital Desk | July 14, 2025





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