Is Labubu Ugly Cute or Just…Ugly? Let’s Discuss
A furry figure with wild teeth, anxious eyes, and the posture of a misbehaving child. Labubu. The collectible creature from Hong Kong based toy brand Pop Mart is everywhere. You’ve likely seen it lurking on shelves, sitting next to Loewe bags in influencer flatlays, or even clutched by fashion enthusiasts like a new age emotional support doll. But the real question is: do we love Labubu… or are we just pretending?
The world of designer toys has never been about conventionally cute. Think of Be@rbricks, KAWS figures, or Takashi Murakami flowers. They’re all a little strange, a little offbeat, and very intentional. But Labubu pushes that boundary further. It’s not round or shiny. It’s spiky, scraggly, and looks like it bites. Still, people can’t seem to get enough.
So what’s driving the appeal?
Part of it may lie in what pop culture calls ‘ugly cute‘. A kind of aesthetic rebellion where cuteness isn’t pristine. It’s chaotic. It’s a gremlin with charm. Think: Shrek. Think: the IKEA shark. Think: that pair of clunky shoes everyone hated at first but now secretly wants.
Labubu belongs to that family. In an age where digital polish and “clean girl” aesthetics reign supreme, its awkwardness feels oddly human. In a sea of curated calm, Labubu brings a bit of mischief to the timeline. It’s the chaos we don’t know we need.
There’s also the collector economy to consider. Pop Mart has created a universe around surprise, scarcity, and subtle identity marking. You don’t just buy Labubu, you hunt for it. You unbox it. You compare yours to the rare ones. You let it say something about you (maybe that you have taste, or humor, or an eye for cult objects).
For many fashion lovers, Labubu represents a kind of stylish irony. It doesn’t belong, and that’s exactly why it fits. Placing something so odd beside your Byredo candle or Jacquemus micro bag feels deliberate. It breaks the rules of taste while subtly rewriting them.
But it’s not all that deep for everyone. Some people just find it cute. In the same way people adore pugs or hairless cats or cursed minion memes, Labubu satisfies a niche craving for things that make you laugh, cringe, and coo all at once.
Is it a stretch to say Labubu reflects the moment we’re in? Maybe not. This is an era where discomfort is part of the aesthetic. Where awkwardness is authentic. Where what’s weird is starting to feel more relatable than what’s perfect.
So, is Labubu ugly cute or just plain ugly?
That depends on your threshold for charm with a little bite. But if cultural signals mean anything, the answer doesn’t really matter. Labubu has already earned its seat on shelves, in selfies, and in the quiet chaos of our curated spaces.
Love it or not, Labubu is here. And it’s watching you. With all 32 of its weird little teeth.
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