Good news, Labubus have been restocked. And as someone who now somehow owns four of the furry little bag charms (yes, things escalated quickly), I've learnt a lot of tips on how to get hold of them. I've bought a couple off resale sites and a couple via Pop Mart. They're all genuine Labubus but with re-sale sites, note that you will have to pay double or triple the retail price (I'm talking £40 to £60).
There are also some of the little gremlins creeping back onto Amazon, which means you can get express delivery, if you just can't wait to see if you've scored a Secret (we've also included a crash course into the world of Labubu below).
Where to shop Labubus online
Pop Mart
If you want to buy them for the £17.50 retail price, make sure to follow the Pop Mart page on Instagram. The brand regularly post details about new Labubu draws that you can enter to purchase one.
You need to sign up to the app, register your interest and select a store for pick up (in London, you can choose Pop Mart stores or retailers like Hamleys, where I picked mine up). There's no guarantee you'll be selected, but I got one first time. You just take your ID and confirmation to the store and walk about with your new 'bubu.
It's also worth checking out Pop Mart's TikTok page as people have had success buying them during live streams.
StockX
I've bought two of my Labubus from StockX and they're both been legit (and verified on Pop Mart). They tend to go for around £40 so you do pay a mark up (and delivery on top) but you can select your preferred colour if you want. If you choose that option, they will come opened but still in their box. You can also get a blind box if you like the surprise element.
You can even buy a Secret if you've got a cool £264 to spare.
Pop Mart Labubu The Monsters Big into Energy Series ID (Secret Version) Vinyl Plush Pendant
Depop
I haven't bought from Depop personally, and there is definitely a mix of Labubus and Lafufus on there. However, if you're looking at prices upwards of £30, they're more likely to be the real thing. If the price looks too good to be true, it generally is.
I also recommend doing your research – many sellers are sharing verified authentication codes, and many are using the site as they've got two of the same colour. course contact them before buying if you want to know more.
Amazon
One of the easiest places to shop 'bubus online is on the official Pop Mart page on Amazon. While they're been out of stock for months, we're starting to see more pop up. They do come at a considerable mark-up though (£69.99 for a single box versus that £17.50 RRP), and some are listed as ‘Like New’. This means they've likely already been unboxed but should still be in box-fresh condition.
Want the whole set?
Note, as more come onto the market, the price should start to come down. So, don't feel you have to splurge.
Where to buy Labubu outfits
I haven't dressed my Labubus up so far, but it's a slippery slope. If you're already in so deep, you're genuinely considering a faux-Gucci boater, I recommend Etsy and Amazon. Here are some of my favourite looks.
Granny-chic Labubu
Holiday Labubu
Chanel-inspired Labubu
How to speak Labubu
Labubus are cuddly bag chains sold by Chinese retailer Pop Mart. They're been around since 2019 but went viral this spring as they sparked fights in UK stores. They've been adopted by the fashion set, hanging off Birkins and Chloe bags, and celebs like Rihanna and David Beckham have been showing theirs off.
They’ve even spawned an army of fakes, known (rather wonderfully) as lafufus, which are almost as collectible as the real thing. They have little razor teeth and giant eyes, but are, in my opinion, completely adorable.
Labubus are part of The Monsters brand and there are three different types of toy in the Labubu series: Exciting Macaron (which come in cute pastel shades), Have a Seat (which all come sitting down) and Big Into Energy (which I like to call Party Labubus as they come in brighter, tie dye shades).
You can buy in individual boxes for £17.50, or as a set of six. They come in blind boxes which is the fun bit (hence all the unboxing videos on social) as you don't which colour you're going to get. There's also the chance of scoring a Secret Labubu, rare colours that can go for hundreds of pounds on resale sites.
The very latest on Labubus? New Yorkers are now meeting up at Labubu raves...
How to clean your Labubu
They go on your bag, which means they're also going on public transport, possibly into loos, sitting on office floors. Katie Mortram, our household advice editor, has kindly shared her cleaning tips. Apparently, the secret to cleaning those grubby eyebrows is micellar water. Yes, your Labubu needs a regular cleanse...
You'll find more helpful tips in Katie's helpful Labubu cleaning guide.
Where are people obsessed with Labubus?
After I started to buy Labubus completely against my better judgement, I spoke to a fashion psychologist to find out why I couldn't get them out of my head. ‘It’s the hive brain,’ Dr Dion Terrelonge tells me. ‘There’s something contagious about it – you see them on fashion influencers and celebrities (it started with Lisa from K-pop band BlackPink) and it’s a really accessible way of buying into that lifestyle and feeling part of a community.’
Dr Terrelonge also points out that fashion is seeing a swing away from the quiet luxury trend we’ve seen in the past couple of years to more fun and frivolity, adding: ‘There could well be an alignment between how scary the world feels right now and people wanting something nostalgic.‘ Aka the lipstick effect – when faced with economic hardship, people are more likely to treat themselves to little luxuries.
Maybe we need to rebrand it as the Labubu effect?
Alison is head of content for the Good Housekeeping Institute, responsible for product reviews across homes, beauty, wellness, family and food & drink. She lives by the William Morris quote that you should “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
Alison has over 15 years' experience as a lifestyle editor and has written features on everything from misophonia to how to dress like Claudia on The Traitors. She has also interviewed everyone from Dame Joanna Lumley to the Kardashians.
In her spare time, you'll find her hanging out with Monty the cocker spaniel and refreshing the Sezane website every five seconds.
