Lisa of Blackpink has it ... so too her bandmate Jennie ... a Thai minister shot up in rating after displaying it attached to her luxury handbag at a televised cabinet meeting.

"Look for Labubu Macaron for us," said my friend, Pun, who alongside his wife and young daughter, got all excited having learnt that I was going to the Chinese city of Shenzhen.

I winced initially asking Labubu, what?; then was quickly told that Labubu is a plush doll with pointed ears and serrated teeth, a member of the hit "The Monsters" collection. He has a mischievous grin, full of characters.

Apparently, everyone is trying to get their hands on Labubu after Lisa of K-pop Blackpink posed herself alongside a whole box set of "The Monsters Exciting Macarons" on her hugely popular Instagram account. The craze captivated collectors in China, Japan, S Korea, Singapore and S.E. Asia.

Lububu and peers are products of Chinese firm Pop Mart. The original was first invented by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung as an art piece back in 2015. 

A box of the iconic Monsters Exciting Macarons would normally cost US$15 and a whole box set of six, US$100, but now has soared twice or trice that after the Lisa effect.

The parents and their young daughters are scrambling to buy the dolls but can’t find any. 

I took on the request to look for Labubu on my recent China visit. My eyes curiously popped when told that the characters are sold in random in enclosed boxes, the so-called "blind box". If you fortunate enough and happen to get a dark brown Labubu, known as Chestnut Cocoa or Labubu Secret, well, Bingo... as it’s very rare and no ceiling on the price!

But having previously witnessed for myself Crybaby, a toy art creation by a Thai designer "Molly" Nisa Srikamdee, sold at an auction in a series of competing bids to more than US$50,000 – the Labubu saga shouldn’t come as a surprise.

In Shenzhen, a big Pop Mart shop was found. And you can’t miss it as The Monster dolls are vividly displayed at the front of the outlet. To our disappointment, the shopkeepers said all are sold out, apparently in all stores, and customers are recommended to order online.

How come?

Collectors are saying in social media that Lisa has caused this supply collapse with the sold-out. Prices are going to the roof. Young girls want to have it to show to their friends, whereas their parents draw to the escalating value.

Where will it end?

Will Pop Mart make more to benefit from the Lisa effect and cover its costs? Or will it stop production and let the re-sale values swell onwards.

As of now, the inventor Kasing Lung is seeing the values of some of his original illustrations on an ascend. His top auction price has hit US$38,400! 

The hunt continues for all others...and for my friend, Pun!
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Doll mania: From Blythe to Labubu, how toy trends take over – The Nation
https://www.nationthailand.com/life/art-culture/40037177