Labubu vs. Beanie Babies: A Tale of Two Collectible Booms

Labubu vs. Beanie Babies: The Ultimate Collectible Showdown

From stuffed critters to vinyl monsters, the world of collectibles has always found a way to get us hooked. Two of the most legendary collectible crazes—Beanie Babies in the 1990s and Labubu in the 2020s—might look totally different on the surface, but they’ve got more in common than you think. One had people lining up at Hallmark stores; the other has fans glued to Pop Mart drops on TikTok. Let’s break down how these two collectible icons rose to fame, shook up culture, and made collectors go absolutely bananas.

Beanie Babies were the brainchild of Ty Warner, who launched Ty Inc. in 1986. But the plushie empire really took off in 1993 when Beanie Babies hit toy shelves. Their bean-filled bellies and floppy limbs gave them a unique charm—and at just $5 each, they were easy to collect (and hoard). Ty’s genius move? Sell them only through small shops, keep the supply low, and randomly “retire” certain characters. Boom. Instant scarcity. Throw in a few tag misprints and suddenly you’ve got moms and dads fighting over a stuffed moose in the mall.

Labubu, on the other hand, was born out of pure imagination. Created by artist Kasing Lung in 2015 as part of his dreamy “The Monsters” universe, Labubu brought a mischievous, goblin-like charm to the designer toy world. Things really popped off in 2019 when Lung teamed up with Pop Mart—a giant in the blind-box collectible game. The first major Labubu series, “Exciting Macaron,” dropped in 2023 and instantly had collectors hunting for rare variants like they were golden tickets. Labubu’s limited runs, fantasy themes, and streetwear collabs helped turn it into a full-on art toy superstar.

Beanie Babies were straight-up Y2K madness. People camped outside stores. Magazines printed price guides. And let’s not forget eBay—Beanie Babies practically built that platform. At the height of the craze in 1999, Ty Inc. was raking in more than $700 million a year. People legit thought these plush pals would pay for their kids’ college. Spoiler: most didn’t.

Fast-forward to Labubu, and it’s clear the hype is still alive—but now it’s digital. Pop Mart runs surprise drops, social media buzz, and influencer unboxings that get thousands of views in minutes. Want a rare chase figure? Better cross your fingers and refresh fast. The resale market for Labubu is sizzling, especially in Asia—and it's making serious moves in the West. There are even giant Labubu statues and designer fashion collabs. Beanie Babies might’ve been cute, but Labubu is collectible culture.

Beanie Baby collectors came in all shapes and sizes. Kids loved them. Adults hoarded them. Grandparents tracked their value like they were stocks. Display cases, protective tag covers, laminated lists—it was a full-time job. People weren’t just collecting—they were investing.

Labubu collectors? They’re younger, art-savvy, and living in the now. It’s about design, story, and that satisfying thrill of opening a mystery box. They show off their collections on TikTok, Instagram, and Xiaohongshu. They don’t just display their Labubus—they style them, pose them, and even photograph them like tiny influencers.

The Beanie Baby bubble popped hard in the early 2000s. Ty overproduced, the media hype fizzled, and suddenly nobody wanted to spend $300 on a stuffed platypus. Today, most Beanie Babies are worth less than your morning coffee—unless you’ve got one of the ultra-rare originals.

Labubu? So far, it’s playing it smart. Pop Mart keeps production tight, releases are curated, and each drop feels special. There's still plenty of risk—one wrong move could oversaturate the market—but for now, Labubu is balancing hype with substance. It’s not just a toy; it’s a limited-edition art piece with a fanbase that cares.

Beanie Babies were born in a simpler time—back when collectors had to drive store-to-store or rely on printed newsletters for updates. Ty was ahead of the curve with its early website, but the community was mostly offline.

Labubu lives in the age of viral everything. Want to know when the next drop is? Just check TikTok, WeChat, or Instagram. Digital wallets, live auctions, AR filters—collecting Labubu is like playing a game with real-world stakes. And unlike Beanie Babies, Labubu’s fans aren’t just collecting—they’re storytelling, customizing, and building whole digital identities around these little monsters.

Beanie Babies walked so Labubu could run. Ty’s plush empire taught the world how hype + scarcity = obsession. Labubu took that formula, added art, mystery, and fashion, and leveled it up for a global, online generation.

One was a retirement plan in disguise. The other is a lifestyle brand wrapped in fantasy.

Will Labubu go the way of Beanie Babies? Maybe. Or maybe it’s the first collectible to truly blend community, art, and digital fandom into something that lasts. For now, it’s safe to say: Labubu didn’t just learn from Beanie Babies—it evolved.

And let’s be honest, it’s wild how far we’ve come—from bean-filled plushies to designer vinyl art toys. Beanie Babies laid the groundwork, proving that toys could be cultural phenomena. Labubu is simply the next evolution, showing us what’s possible when you combine art, community, and storytelling.