Richmond is obsessed with the viral Labubus
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Labubu, in this case Labubu Sesame, was a fixture during Paris Fashion week in June. Photo; Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
Richmonders are going gaga for Labubu, the creepy plush toy that's become summer's hottest (and possibly weirdest) trend.
Why it matters: The closest official retailer for the toothy doll is hours away, in Northern Virginia.
- And official retailer Pop Mart is the only place to buy them at the retail price, which are typically under $30 for the plush charms — the ones everyone wants, per NPR.
The big picture: Labubus are basically 2025's version of Furbys, Beanie Babies, or Cabbage Patch dolls, depending on your generation.
- The creature was introduced in a 2015 children's book based on Nordic fairy tales, "The Monsters," as the kind-hearted, but chaotic species of monster in a world with a half-dozen whimsical monsters.
- Labubus started catching on in 2019, when the Hong Kong-born author partnered with Pop Mart, a Chinese toy company known for turning toys into coveted collectibles through surprise blind boxes, per retail publications.
- But it wasn't until celebs, pop stars and TikTok influencers started clipping the furry figurines to their designer purses in the last few months that demand for Labubus went truly viral.
And just like that, the Labubu summer 2025 craze was born.
Zoom in: Thea Brown, owner of World of Mirth, can attest to the obsession.
- The Carytown toy store is getting at least 100 calls a week from locals searching for the viral doll, and queries on most of their Insta posts, she tells Axios.
- Even the hygienist at her dentist has asked her if she had any during her recent visit.
- The folks at Little Wish Toys in Northside say they haven't gotten any calls, but they've certainly spotted the trend in the store, mostly on young adults wearing them as accessories.
"It's been crazy. I've contacted Pop Mart for years, but they never respond," the folks at Toy Lair on Broad, which gets daily calls about the dolls, tells Axios.
Yes, but: You won't find them in Richmond, at least not at retail price.
- You could, however, try Kicks Boomin sneaker store in the Arts District. It had two for resale last week, for $500 each.
- If you're really desperate for one, or at least desperate to try finding one, head to NoVa.
- Pop Mart opened two vending machines up there this spring, per its store locator: One in Springfield Town Center and another in Tysons Corner.
The bottom line: Forget about Brat summer, this one belongs to Labubu.