Explainer | Labubu craze sweeps globe, highlights power of China, Asia stars have on consumer trends

Asian and Chinese stars are rewriting the fashion industry playbook, turning niche favourites into global must-haves. The Post explores how celebrity choices shape style and consumption while reflecting the values of today’s fans. Lisa Labubu At 28, Lisa of the South Korean girl group Blackpink has more than 100 million social media followers and over 1.9 billion online streams for her solo debut, Lalisa. In April last year, the Thai star posted photos with a Labubu plush toy and a matching keychain on her bag. Labubu, a furry bunny-eared character with nine sharp teeth and a cheeky grin, is from the Chinese toy brand Pop Mart’s Monster series and was designed by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung. Lisa’s love for the adorable figure quickly ignited a global frenzy among fans. Priced at US$27.99 each, Labubu’s blind box now resells for up to 10 times more. Long queues have formed in the US, UK, Thailand, and Singapore, and with some shoppers even fighting over limited stock. Celebrities including David Beckham and Rihanna have been seen carrying Labubu, and the actress Liu Yifei took one to a fashion show in Italy. A Labubu fan from China, known as Ahe, spent more than 200,000 yuan (US$28,000) to collect every version of the toy, including the secret ones. He said he was drawn in by the limited supply, surprise element and playful design. Cool English Hong Kong actor Daniel Wu, 50, has appeared in more than 60 films, including New Police Story with Jackie Chan, which earned him the Best Supporting Actor award at the 2004 Golden Horse Awards. Born and raised in California, Wu is one of the most fluent English speakers in Chinese cinema. In February, he launched a spoken English course on mainland social media to help fans learn natural, everyday expressions. Priced at 398 yuan (US$60), the course includes more than 80 lessons, mostly recorded by Wu, covering topics like travel, shopping, slang, and tongue twisters. On May 21, Wu held his first live-stream to promote the course. In just 30 minutes, he sold more than 2,000 courses, with total sales topping 8.75 million yuan (US$1.2 million). Fans dubbed him an “intellectual idol” and said Wu made learning English cool again. Polaroid passion Chinese singer and actress Ju Jingyi, 30, rose to fame with the Chinese idol group SNH48 and has since built a 31.2 million-strong social media following. Known for her signature make-up, she was dubbed a “once-in-4,000-years beauty” by the Japanese media. In April, Ju posted vintage-style portraits taken with Polaroid peel-apart film, attracting more than 1.1 million likes. Originating in the 1940s, peel-apart film requires users to manually peel the image from its backing after development. Ju’s photos sparked a retro trend, with fans praising the film’s raw and authentic look. Though the film is discontinued and often unreliable, many people in China still pay up to 400 yuan (US$60) at photography studios for a single shot. Once sold for 70 yuan a pack, expired peel-apart film now fetches up to 7,000 yuan (US$1,000) on resale platforms. Topics related to the photos have racked up more than 650 million views on mainland social media. Auntie fashion South Korean rapper and singer-songwriter Kwon Ji-yong, famously known as G-Dragon, 36, is the leader of K-pop group BigBang and has 24.4 million followers on social media. In October last year, he made a comeback with Power, his first solo single in seven years, topping global charts and selling out concerts. His new androgynous look challenged gender norms and drew widespread attention. In November last year, G-Dragon was spotted at South Korea’s Incheon International Airport in a red cardigan and a pink flower-patterned scarf draped over a baseball cap. Later at a show in Hong Kong, he wore a pink Chanel tweed jacket over a floral blouse with yellow-tinted sunglasses. His style was dubbed “grannycore”, earning him the playful nickname “auntie” by social media users. People around the world, regardless of gender, began copying his “auntie” look online. “He has never been boxed in. He is always ahead of the curve in fashion,” one online observer wrote.

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From furry toys to ‘cool’ English lessons and androgynous chic, Asian celebrities prove they can move global markets

Lisa Labubu

From furry toys to ‘cool’ English lessons and androgynous chic, Asian celebrities prove they can move global markets