Missed out on Labubu? These Alternative Collectible Gifts Might Be Even Better
Ultra-adorable, and more affordable, blind boxes are in your future!
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How is it that Labubus are everywhere and no where all at once? Even if I did find one, I'm not sure I'd be able to fork over the cash to get it. That's not to shade Labubu collectors—they have more patience and disposable income than I do.
But I do understand the hype: trying to hunt down rare items and making space on the shelf for new finds, showing off just how cute they can be. So if there are those out there who, like me, feel shut out of the craze, here are other, non-Labubu gifts for collectors.
For each item, I tried to stick to at least one element of what makes Labubu popular: Its look, which can be either cute or off-putting, and its ability to hang on a backpack or belt loop, or be displayed on a shelf. Then there's the thrill factor of getting a blind box, or knowing that something is only available for a limited time.
Editor's note: These are all collectibles, and part of the phenomenon is that they're rare. A lot of times, you have to look at specialty stores (or pay a steep price from third-party resellers). Since they sell out very quickly, fans will want to act fast!
The good thing about Squishmallows is that, while individual items may be rare or go out of stock, there is always something to collect. The biggest draws are plushes in a range of sizes, so they can get a small five-pack of bag clips, a 12-inch pineapple, a 16-inch unicorn, all the way up to a giant, 24-inch mushroom. And if they're loving the Squishmallows lifestyle, they can also go beyond plushes to journals, hoodies, and DIY bracelets.
Jellycat fans have no age limit: People buy the stuffed bunny blankets as baby gifts, kids love the animal plushes and adults have been known to buy up the adorable "Amuseables" line of stuffies that look like quirky food and drink items or household objects. One thing they have in common: They're so, so soft. Jellycats come as plushes, bags and bag charms, and in addition to Jellycat's website, they are available on Amazon, but they sell out quickly.
What started as a simply drawn, Dutch children's book character in the '50s is now a full-on collectible empire, including a collaboration with Baccarat and a floor lamp so chic it's in the MoMA Design Store. Of course, it's not all so high-end, and there is a ton of affordably priced Miffy merch, including Bluetooth speakers, film cameras, and an adorable plush. (Do I have a few of the Smoko pastel blind box figures? A polite woman doesn't brag ... but yes.)
Labubu chasers will already know Pop Mart as the architect of all their pain (or success!), since it's the brand behind everyone's favorite, hard-to-find monsters. But Labubu isn't the only trick Pop Mart has up its sleeve, and it has plenty of other collectible lines. Take Hacipupu, for example, which has the same mix of furry head and fleshy face. Unlike Labubus, which are mischievous, Hacipupu is sweeter and more innocent, making friends with all the animals, toys, and objects in his vicinity.
With his variety of headdresses and sweet side-eye, Sonny Angel has become sort of an emotional support person for a certain type of collector. The figures come out in different themed series—like the Birthday Gift series, which shows him in a variety of different cake-themed outfits, or the Snack Series, which has him wearing burgers and fries on his head — and it's not unusual for new series to sell out in a flash. (Yes, they are all naked on the bottom as they're designed to be cherubs. The Hippers series sticks to a phone or notebook, which may be a good option for those who want something with less nudity.) Another great gift for a Sonny Angel fans? The My Bestie Case, which clips to a bag and lets fans show off their favorite figurines.
If what appeals about Labubu the most is the way it's kinda cute and kinda hideous at the same time, then Pop Mart's Crybaby series might be the next best thing. Some of them are branded collaborations—this one is Bubbles from The Powerpuff Girls, if you couldn't tell—but there are also non-IP criers. In addition to vinyl figures, they come as plush dolls.
Let's get the bad news out of the way first: Smiski can be as hard as Labubu to track down, so it's not the choice for people who don't like the chase. What sets them apart is that they glow in the dark, which means, if you can find them, they can be useful as toothbrush holders, night lights, and zipper pulls.
These fuzzy, flocked creatures have been around since the mid-'80s, but they've returned to the spotlight now that everything ultra-cute is in again. In addition to buying members of different animal families, collectors can get blind bags that come with a figure and tiny accessories.
Fans love Labubus because they're small and cute. Chiikawa, also known as Nanka Chiisakute Kawaii Yatsu, literally means "something small and cute." What kind of animal is Chiikawa? No one needs to worry about that. But Chiikawa and his friends live up to the name and can be found on everything from earbud cases to keyboard key caps to winter hats.
BT21 is a whole world of characters from the planet BT. Their ultimate goal? To win over the hearts and minds of earthlings by becoming the most influential pop-culture phenomenon on the planet. (Just go with it.) In addition to Cooky, the cocked-eyebrow bunny, the group includes the sleepy Koya, foodie RJ, prank-loving Shooky, mask-wearing Mang, industrious Chimmy, robot Van, and Tata, the prince who put the whole group together, so there's plenty to collect.
Kids from the '80s might remember the debut of Monchhichi, which capitalized on the ugly-but-cute aesthetic decades before Labubu. They come dressed up in different outfits, so fans can decide if they want a rocker DJ, a Granny or Grandpa, a US Olympic fan, a piece of fruit, or, in a feat of cross-collectibility, a Monchhichi dressed up as Hello Kitty (and vice versa). At Urban Outfitters, there's also other Monchhichi merch, like crossbody phone pouches, coin purses, spiral notebooks, and laptop sleeves.
Snoopy has always been cool—Joe Cool, that is—but it seems that everyone wants to collab with the best beagle in town. That's good news for fans of cute collectibles. Fans can find him on Vera Bradley bags, OOLY school supplies, Pottery Barn sheets, Coach wallets, Moleskine notebooks, Yeti cups, and many, many more. Basically, fans can be decked out head-to-toe in Peanuts at any moment. Good grief!
Collectible lovers and cat people are often one and the same. For those, there's Mofusand, which has a very simple concept: cats dressed up in various costumes. The name is inspired by the Japanese phrase "mofu mofu," which means "soft and fluffy," two of the most prized attributes of a collectible. While fans love the Mofusand shark and other animal costumes, for my money the food-themed ones are the cutest. They also come as collectible, blind-box figures and Sonny Angel-style Hippers.
Chances are, once a collector is made aware of Tokidoki, they'll be able to recognize its style immediately the next time they see it. It's a unique mix of street art and ultra-cute aesthetics, and you can find their characters on clip-on keychains, blind-box figures, throw blankets, and lunch bags.
Like Miffy, Moomin was created across the pond decades ago and its popularity has endured: The first Moomin story was published in 1945 in Swedish. But the characters are still beloved today, and there was even a new Moomins movie made as recently as 2010. (Moomin look like hippos, but they are trolls.) Those who like the cutesy woodland vibes can collect Moomin figures, tea tins, sweatshirts, and other cozy treats.
Whether their favorite Ghibli is My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo, Princess Mononoke or one of the other classics, there's always some cute characters to collect. (My husband keeps coming home and gifting me warawara, parakeets and other merch from The Boy and the Heron, and you know what? I'm not mad about it.) Each movie has its own fantasy world and cool creatures that inhabit it. In addition to Amazon, Box Lunch is also a great source for exclusive Ghibli gifts.
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Yes, that's Tayto, as in potato. A neutral-faced potato dressed up in whimsical outfits—what more could a collector want? And, like every great collectible, in addition to blind-box figures, it comes in plush form and as bag charms. It comes from Smoko, which has other collectible lines, including Kewpie dolls, Miffy, Shrimpies, and Yeti that are not unlike Labubu.
Like Snoopy, Hello Kitty and her Sanrio friends are collaborating all over the place. They're dressed as Care Bears. They're transformed into Squishmallows. They're showing up on Crocs. They're taking over beauty products. There's even a Hello Kitty/Chucky crossover at Universal Studios. Collabs came to a head in 2024, when Hello Kitty celebrated her 50th anniversary, but that just means the chase right now is even sweeter.
Gotta catch 'em all is the motto for both Pokémon and hardcore collectors, so it makes sense to put the two together. And while there are plenty of Poké plush in the world, the Soda Pop Plush collection, which features cool colors and graphic elements in their designs, won a Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award. There are also bag charms of tons of characters, which is good because Pokémon fans tend to feel strongly about their favorites.
More gifts for fans who love everything retro: The Loyal Subjects has brought back two '80s toy lines perfect for those who want to brighten up their bags and desks. Rainbow Brite and Strawberry Shortcake both have their doll forms, of course, but also blind-bag keychains, micro figures, enamel pins, and other items to collect.
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
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