Bag charms are this season’s hot accessory with personalisation and playful expression.
Last year, model Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand Rhode’s stylish phone case was winning hearts. It was not an ordinary phone case but a built-in lip balm holder.
Benefit cosmetics introduced its Benetint and High Beam highlighter packaged in a key chain a few months back.
Now Labubu bag charms are the latest rage in accessories-on-the-go-list.
Personalisation has been key to many celebrities’ style statements… the likes of Dua Lipa, Anne Hathaway, and Gigi Hadid decorating their luxury bags with baubles.
Their bag charms have taken the internet by storm and the novelty lies in the practicality-meet-efficiency charm as it offers functionality with style.
Many among the Y2K generation address it as ‘dopamine dressing’ which makes them ‘help reconnect with their childhood’.
Take for instance, the furry elf character Labubu which has been trending for sometime now.
The character, which is inspired by storybooks and elves, has been spotted on celebrities’ bags, now increasing its popularity
among collectors.
Not just as the character of the storybook but Labubu is now more popular as soft and furry toys, key and bag chains or phone charms, transformed into figurines and merchandise, which are quite a rage in the US and Japan markets.
Almost 300 different iterations in the form of figurines, and accessories are available online and sold by toy company Pop Mart in a ‘blind box’ format.
A ‘blind box’ package contains a random product from a collection which adds an element of surprise to attract more customers.
Among the celebrities, Labubu is spotted hanging on Korean girl group Blackpink’s Rose and Lisa Louis Vuitton bags, actors like Ananya Panday, Heart Evangelista, and Marian Rivera, besides Barbadian singer Rihanna and Albanian singer Dua Lipa have been spotted flaunting the charm on their luxury bags.
The popularity and high demand has now made it ‘out of stock’ on pop mart stores and brand e-commerce websites that come with a price tag between Rs 3000 and Rs 20,000.
The craze is apparent as people across Asia flock to shopping malls and online stores to get their hands on the latest edition of Labubu.
Thousands of Glaswegians have been spotted queuing for hours on the weekend in one of UK’s oldest markets, the Barras market of Glasgow last week.
Labubu mania has taken over Australia too, with fans queuing up at stores from 3 am to get their hands on the artful plushies.
But who made this character popular?
The Labubu story goes back to 2015, when Hong-Kong based illustrator Kasing Lung created a fairy world in picture books inspired by Nordic mythology, titled The Monsters.
Lung populated it with magical characters both good and evil. Of all the monsters which include Zimomo, Tycoco, Spooky, it was
Labubu with high, pointed ears and serrated teeth that became an internet sensation.
While trendy bag charms are about unique designs that add personality and flair to any bag, apart from Labubu, there are other bag charms that are making everyday pieces smart — Jellyfish, Monchhichi, Miffy, Hello Kitty, Crybaby.
Take the case of Crybaby, a mini interactive doll with real tears, has collaborated with the Powerpuff Girls, for an array of collectable figurines and accessories like iPhone cases and cell phone grips, released as part of the Pop Mart collection.
Another one, Hello Kitty celebrated its 50 years last year, with brand collaboration to create unique product lines and experiences, demonstrating Hello Kitty’s enduring appeal.
Hello Kitty is a fictional character owned by Japanese entertainment company Sanrio, and created by Japanese designer Yuko Shimizu in 1974.
Hello Kitty (the real name is Kitty White) has been the star of numerous animated series, films, comics and video games throughout the decades, and her appeal and fandom only seems to grow over time.
Hello Kitty collaborated with Balenciaga for a limited edition collection of bags and accessories, showcasing the iconic feline in a high-fashion setting. The brand also collaborated with Crocs to adorn their classic clog with subtle Hello Kitty decals, offering customised Jibbitz charms inspired by kawaii culture (a cultural phenomenon in Japan that emphasises cuteness, innocence, and charm).