No, Labubu isn’t some nonsense word or the latest Gen Z slang . But the weird word has been popping up all over the Internet lately. Everyone, from influencers to content creators to K-pop superstars , is talking about Labubu. If you’re one of the people saying, “What is a Labubu and why is everyone completely obsessed with it?” don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. We’re explaining where these odd little collectible dolls (yes, they’re dolls!) came from, how they took over social media, and why people are literally lining up to get the latest set. What is Labubu? Though these collectible dolls are having their viral moment right now, they’ve actually been around for a long time. According to the toy’s manufacturer, PopMart , Kasing Lung, an artist born in Hong Kong but raised in the Netherlands, created “The Monsters” for a series of children’s books over a decade ago. Labubus were one type of the oddly adorable little monsters featured in his books. One particular Labubu usually...