SINGAPORE: Lisa from the South Korean girl band Blackpink sparked a frenzy when she unveiled her Labubu doll on social media back in April 2024. Many in Singapore clamoured for them. Some even gambled for the dolls online , while a handful stole them outright - three boys were caught on CCTV tilting a claw machine and taking five dolls.
This fervour over a toy may seem bewildering. But as a lifelong doll collector, I can attest to the thrill of the chase and the collective joy. In 2023, when Labubu blind boxes were readily available at PopMart stores, I joined a few friends as they unboxed their dolls outside the shop.
The elation was infectious. We cheered when someone got the doll they wanted. The staff cheered along with us.
It was like when Liverpool won the English Premier League in 1990. We all wanted to feel like this forever. Yet, observers now wonder, how long will the Labubu frenzy last? RESELLERS VS COLLECTORS When Labubu first launched, it went for S$24.
90 apiece at PopMart. At this accessible price point, collectors happily hung them on their bags even before Lisa did. Now, it’s virtually impossible to buy a Labubu at retail price as they’re constantly sold out.
For some, Labubu’s scarcity makes her more desirable. Buyers have been willing to pay more than double from resellers, especially for limited edition dolls. From what I’ve observed, doll collectors often buy duplicates when a new doll launches - one for enjoying and one for reselling, should the p.
