Labubu Was Never the Problem: But the World’s Reaction Might Be #00010 Art Toy Files

Uncovering the Stories, Creators and Culture Behind #ArTToys
An Art Toy Gama Perspective

Let’s get something straight: Labubu ArT Toy didn’t start with Pop Mart.

Before the corporate drops, before the blind boxes flooded every corner of the internet, before TikTok made him famous: Labubu already existed.
He was born from the creative mind of Kasing Lung, and for years, real ArT Toy collectors have followed his evolution through prints, zines, indie releases and early resin pieces.

Labubu wasn’t created to go viral.
He was created to whisper Stories.

And we listened.

Back then, collecting Labubu felt like discovering a message left just for You: odd, emotional, a little dark, a little sweet.
Something that didn’t just sit on a shelf. It spoke.

But now?

Now we’re watching the world implode over him.

From Hidden Gem to Hyper-Public Frenzy

In 2025, Labubu isn’t just a collectible.
It’s a cultural riot.

In Brazil, authorities are debating legislation over the psychological effects of hyper-realistic dolls.

In Russia, Labubu is being questioned by officials for looking “too scary” and for lacking proper Russian-language labels.

In the Kurdistan region of Iraq, entire shipments have been confiscated by customs due to “public concern.”

In China, the government has created new task forces to crack down on fake Labubus, a rare step that shows how far the hype has reached—and how seriously the brand’s protection is being enforced.

In Thailand, some collectors have even turned Labubu into a kind of modern amulet, blending the figure into spiritual practices.

In Malaysia, Labubu has unexpectedly appeared in political campaigns, used as a promotional mascot, sparking debates about the use of toys for political ends.

In Singapore, Labubu surfaced during the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, where its presence in spiritual contexts led to heated arguments about cultural appropriation.

Meanwhile, online and offline:
Fights have broken out in stores.
Shops have shut down for security reasons.
Fake Labubus—“Lafufus”—are everywhere.
Parents are panicking.
Scalpers are thriving.
And ArT Toy collectors are… confused.

What the hell just happened?

The Answer: Nothing New. And Everything.

Labubu didn’t change. We did.

The soft-spoken character we once discovered in small batches and low-key Art shows has been consumed by algorithmic frenzy.

What used to be a connection between collector and Story has become a race: driven by FOMO, social validation, and zero context.

Labubu never screamed “BUY ME.”
He never asked to become a trend.
He didn’t want to be cute or creepy or controversial.

He just was.

And now…
we turned him into a cultural monster.
Not because of how he looks—
but because of how we look at him.

The Cost of Excess

At Art Toy Gama, we’re not here for what’s hot.
We’re here for what matters.

And this cultural hysteria?
It’s proof of something deeper:
Collecting ArT Toys becomes empty when it’s driven by status, not Story.

When people buy for the algorithm, not the connection.
When a character like Labubu becomes the latest must-have instead of a moment of Memory.

But not everyone falls into the chaos.

Not Everyone Is Here for the Hype

And that’s the best part of all this.

After the storm fades, after the fake figures stop being trendy, after the headlines die, after the influencers move on, a few will remain.

The real ArT Toy collectors.
The ones who knew Labubu before this madness.
The ones who buy not because it’s fashionable, but because they feel something when they see him.

And we’re part of that group.

At Art Toy Gama, we collect Labubu too.
In fact, we only own two.
Both were blind boxes gifted by an artist and friend we work with—Celipe Perroloco.
We treasure them. Not because they’re rare. But because they’re ours. Because they mean something.

That’s the spirit we believe in.
That’s the kind of collecting we’ll always support.

A Call to Stores, Brands & Galleries

We hope that beyond the headlines and the hype,
shops, galleries, brands and artists keep supporting this character.
Because Labubu deserves more than a news cycle.
He deserves a place in collections that value narrative, memory, and quiet rebellion.

We also believe many media outlets talk too much and investigate too little.
This isn't about controversy.
It’s about culture.

So let’s stop pretending Labubu is something new.
And start appreciating what he always was:
A figure full of feeling.

This Isn’t About Labubu

It never was.

It’s about what we project onto these figures.
It’s about our fear of missing out.
Our obsession with owning.
Our hunger for validation.
And our loss of silence in a world screaming for attention.

At Art Toy Gama, we believe collecting isn’t about control.
It’s about curating Memory.
And Labubu, long before he was viral, was exactly that:
A quiet rebellion.
A soft reminder.
An ArT Toy that didn’t want to play, but to be understood.

Final Reflection

So the next time you see Labubu…

Pause.

Don’t scroll blindly.
Don’t collect blindly.

Instead, ask:

Does this piece mean something to me?

Because one day, the noise will fade.
But the feeling will remain.

🧠 Want to collect with Memory, not marketing?

👉 Visit our Store.
Not to follow Trends.
But to follow what feels true.

The First and Only Art Toy Newsletter Society in the World here: https://emails.arttoygama.com/l/email-subscription

Art Toys. Paintings. Fine Art Prints. Not what You expect.

The Power of Dis(Play)

Real collectors don't follow trends—they redefine them