Pop Mart, the company behind the hit collectible character Labubu, was virtually unknown outside mainland China before 2024, but now some analysts are comparing its success to that of Sanrio and its Hello Kitty property, suggesting that the Beijing toymaker could have created a new playbook for cultural exports.
Labubu, a sharp-fanged but cute little monster that is often sold as a plush clip-on charm for handbags, has attracted high-profile fans including the family of football star David Beckham. Its popularity pushed Pop Mart’s Hong Kong-listed shares to a record high of HK$234 last week, after the company’s market capitalisation topped HK$300 billion (US$38 billion) the week before. The rally followed the April debut of the Labubu 3.0 series, which drew long queues in London, New York, and Dubai.
