Labubu and beyond — Decoding the rise of China’s ‘IP economy’
A human-sized Labubu figurine is displayed before an auction in Beijing, China, June 6, 2025. [Photo/Agencies] BEIJING — Until this year, few could have anticipated that a quirky, toothy plush doll would capture the hearts of social media users worldwide and ignite a global shopping frenzy. Labubu, created by Chinese toymaker Pop Mart, is becoming…









