First got here the Labubus. Then got here their whimsical equipment. A variety of Bay Space collectors are loopy for each.
“They are just gorgeous right on the shelves, with cool personalities, and bring innocence and beauty to the world,” stated Nolan Haley, 38, a Labubu lover from Oakley, who hooked up a number of of the plush toys in colourful outfits to his crossbody bag.
His favourite is his first, Sesame Bean, a grey Labubu in an opulent child shark outfit. “My youngest son is autistic, and he loves baby sharks so I have her in an outfit,” Haley stated.
Labubu lovers like Haley gathered Saturday on the South San Francisco Convention Heart for the Hype Con Bubu Fest, a vibrant pageant hosted by native chain Fugitive Toys. Followers and collectors got here collectively to buy equipment to customise their collectibles, commerce them and join with the group.
Recognized for its signature creepy-cute grin, Labubu was created by Kasing Lung, a Hong Kong-born artist, and first appeared in Lung’s 2015 image e-book collection “The Monsters.” It wasn’t till a 2019 collaboration with Chinese language toy big Pop Mart that Labubu made the leap into toy stardom, shortly gaining worldwide reputation.
In response to an announcement by Pop Mart, the corporate expects its earnings to surge by greater than 350% within the first half of the yr, pushed largely by Labubu’s explosive world attraction.
The recognition opened the door for entrepreneurs and small-business homeowners within the Bay Space to faucet into a distinct segment however thriving market, providing inspiration, innovation and alternatives to native artists and distributors. Tattoo artists, cosmetologists, artisan jewellery makers and accent retailers are amongst these providing Labubu-related merchandise and providers.
Labubu lovers are usually not happy with simply amassing them; additionally they are searching for private expression. Adorning their Labubus is a method to symbolize their id, by getting matched tattoos, tooth gems or shopping for mini outfits for the toys.
Brittany Briscoe, a kindergarten artwork instructor from Hollister, went to the Bubu Fest along with her two daughters. They searched for frolicsome and endearing Labubu outfits and equipment to compete within the upcoming Labubu Greatest Dressed Contest in San Jose. “We want to win,” she stated.
Added Haley: “You can put your own personality on, by putting the clothes on them. … Being a millennial, we love our tchotchkes. It’s fun and not weird or strange.”
Owen Smith, a tattoo artist in Martinez, fastidiously inked designs onto the Labuubus’ vinyl faces utilizing strategies usually utilized to artificial pores and skin. “It’s the first time I’ve seen tattooing on a toy become part of the trend,” he stated.
Tattoo artist Owen Smith, of Martinez, applies a everlasting tattoo on a Labubu toy throughout the Labubu Fest in South San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
1 of 5
Tattoo artist Owen Smith, of Martinez, applies a everlasting tattoo on a Labubu toy throughout the Labubu Fest in South San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Develop
Smith began tattooing Labubu faces after noticing that many followers needed to personalize their toys. Some folks got here to him with Labubus for matching tattoos, whereas others who didn’t have tattoos themselves took it as an experiment to strive the tattoo arts.
Sophia Nguyen, a 30-year-old reside artist from San Francisco, who normally works at marriage ceremony occasions, was drawing a cartoon portrait of the shoppers for $10 every, with one playful twist: Every portrait included a secret Labubu improvised on the spot for added shock.
“They feel so much joy in seeing their portrait,” Nguyen stated. She did virtually 50 drawings in a single afternoon. “I’m just happy to see families coming together and having fun.”
Dominique Suber, a registered dental hygienist from Fairfield, makes use of dental-grade supplies to pioneeringly apply tooth gems on Labubus, charging $10 for 3 gems.
“I thought the only thing I could do was clean my teeth, but I see all of these people’s creativity,” Suber stated. “This is another little outlet for me.”
Close by, her 17-year-old daughter Alannah Howell was attaching a tooth gem on a beige Labubu diligently sitting beside a dental chair. The second moved Suber to tears.
“She’s learning how to be an entrepreneur, finding a niche for herself,” Suber stated. “This is something she likes to do so it doesn’t feel like work. I am so proud of her.”
Karli Griffith, an administrator coordinator, and Arta Razavi and Zachary Priddy, each software program engineers, sat beside a glowing Labubu LED signal of their very own making, promoting handmade Labubu wing equipment for $20 every.
“We put our hearts into it and try to create a little positivity. It’s a collaborative effort,” Griffith stated.
For Skyla Mendivil, a 31-year-old native airbrush artist from San Jose, the Bubu fest is an opportunity to serve the group of Labubu followers. With an arsenal of stencils, she provided free facepaint for Labubu lovers of all ages. All through the occasion, her sales space remained one of many busiest, with folks ceaselessly crowding round for her work.
“It helps us connect, builds community and gives us inspiration to make things,” Griffith stated. “I really like how Labubu makes a positive impact on people, bringing different generations together over a little cute doll.”
Initially Revealed:
