Labubu, the stuffed animal that reveals the global recession disguised as cuteness

In a world where traditional luxuries are becoming unattainable, Labubu —a vinyl figure with an adorable gremlin aesthetic—has become the “mascot of the moment” amidst a tired and precarious economic ecosystem. Sold in blind boxes , this character created by the Chinese brand Pop Mart has transformed into an emotional consumption phenomenon: cheap enough to avoid feeling guilty, but special enough to provide a dopamine rush. Although it seemed like it would only be a passing fad of a few months, it has endured over time, and other brands have tried to replicate its success, which may well be reminiscent of the childhood anxiety many feel or felt when opening a Kinder Surprise.

Labubu is part of Pop Mart's "The Monsters" series. Its appearance blends the cute with the unsettling, and its random packaging makes each purchase feel like a mini emotional lottery. In Mexico, the price of an authentic Labubu—as copies are already plentiful in various stores and websites—ranges between 300 and 700 pesos for the standard version, while special editions or large plush toys can exceed 6,000 pesos. On resale, some models skyrocket to 10,000 pesos.

Economists call it the "lipstick effect": when there's a recession, people don't stop indulging themselves; they just downsize. Instead of designer handbags, people now buy premium stuffed animals. In this context, Labubu embodies the " recession-core " : a miniaturized luxury item for a generation that has been left out of access to the greatest luxuries.

“In a world where luxury seems out of reach, Labubus has become a silent symbol of economic exhaustion,” reads the original Mille article. Indulgence becomes micro, desire is packaged, and emotional relief comes in a blind box.

Behind the charm lies a system that turns collective anxiety into record profits. Pop Mart, the company behind the phenomenon, managed to earn its CEO, Wang Ning, $1.6 billion in a single day thanks to the massive sale of these figures. As the article notes, "it sounds dystopian, and it is."

Buying a Labubu, more than a trend, has become a kind of self-consolation ritual in an economic system that not only exploits labor but also desire. “The cruelty of late capitalism is that it not only exploits labor, it colonizes desire,” the text states, challenging lovers of consumerism. The next time you see one of these dolls peeking out of a backpack, remember: it's not just a stuffed animal. It's a totem of economic fragility, digitalized dopamine, and consumer displacement.

• Standard blind box (small figure, 7-10 cm) : between 300 and 700 pesos
• Limited or rare editions : from 1,000 to 3,000 Mexican pesos
• Large stuffed animals or special editions like “Tasty Macaron” or “Time to Chill” can cost up to 6,000 or 7,000 pesos .
• Resale or out-of-stock versions : Some Labubu are auctioned or resold on sites like eBay and Mercado Libre or for more than 10,000 pesos