Labubu Dolls, New Bugatti, and Lisa Frank a Colorful Monster: What You May Have Scrolled Past...
- Sammi Lee Davis
- Jul 15
- 4 min read
Labubu Dolls
Labubu (pronounced La-boo-boo) — another seemingly meaningless toy going for up to $950?! Before you assume this is some kind of collector's item you’ll flip for profit (like Beanie Babies in 2001 that barely crossed the $40 mark), think again. These little creatures are likely part of another trend boosted by the rise of "blind boxes."
Labubu is a character from “The Monsters” toy line created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung and started distribution with Chinese toy company Pop Mart. The line became especially popular in Asia and among collectors worldwide. - Wikipedia Link
Labubus aren’t new—they’ve been around since 2015, and their popularity took off in 2019 when Pop Mart, a Chinese toy company, collaborated with artist Kasing Lung. Lung grew up in the Netherlands, heavily influenced by Nordic folklore, which inspired the creepy-cute look of Labubu and its monstrous friends.
So why the sudden hype now? Well, it really blew up when Lisa from BLACKPINK was photographed with a Labubu keychain. Since then, it’s become a must-have for fashionable Gen Zers and young adults alike. I even saw a stylish girl in Amarillo—slicked-back hair, black designer dress—with a Labubu dangling from her purse.
What’s really driving this? Likely the "blind box" craze. If you're unfamiliar, blind boxes are collectible toys where you don’t know which figure you’re getting until after purchase. That element of surprise adds to the thrill. And yes, I have a few sitting in my Amazon cart right now.
So beware if your kid, niece, nephew—or your cousin’s kid—is asking for a Labubu. It might be hard to find, and it could cost $50 or more just to get a single box.
(And yes, there are fakes out there.)
Tik Tok Trends: 'I woke up in a New Bugatti' and Chit?
Our algorithms might be different, but I consistently get a mix of cats, political rants, tear-jerkers, and two things I keep seeing: 1. The “New Bugatti” trend, and 2. Chit. I like watching Chit.
The “New Bugatti” trend features a couple—usually a girl and guy—reenacting the action of driving a car. The girl pretends to shift gears on a hardwood floor while being pulled out of frame, set to the 2013 track Bugatti by Ace Hood. In the second scene, she tries to do the same to him, but the music cuts out and she struggles, much to everyone’s amusement. There are currently around 86.8K videos using the sound on TikTok. @brotherjoel video
Now, on to Chit—my personal favorite TikTok comic relief.
Think The Office meets Anchorman, but make it TikTok. Chit is the creation of Jay Renshaw (@renshawjay on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram). His character is a hilariously awkward, ‘70s serial killer-looking office guy—kind, positive, but just plain odd. He responds to questions from an off-camera coworker with wonderfully dry, absurdist humor.
Chit isn’t cringey like early Michael Scott—he’s more charmingly weird. If you like dry humor and office chaos, you’ll probably love him too.
Lisa Frank Docuseries: Girlhood Disillusionment
Nothing screams girlhood nostalgia quite like a Lisa Frank leopard on a Trapper Keeper. But if you grew up idolizing rainbow unicorns and pastel dolphins, the new docuseries on Amazon Prime might hit a little differently.
Glitter and Greed: The Lisa Frank Story explores the rise, fall, and questionable rebirth of one of the most iconic brands of the '90s—and the not-so-magical empire behind it.
The series interviews both lower-level employees and high-ranking executives from the Lisa Frank company, revealing a workplace that was far from the dream it marketed. Everyone tells a slightly different version of the story, but there's a consistent undercurrent: something was deeply wrong, especially at the top.
The company’s early artists were underpaid, and the creative resurgence that brought Lisa Frank back into the cultural spotlight came largely from start-ups and social media creators—not the company itself. The documentary suggests the brand capitalized on that grassroots momentum without giving much credit where it was due. This personally hit like a ton of multi-colored bricks, because I know small businesses have it hard. To watch one, Glamour Dolls, have their work be taken, and to then be bankrupted by Lisa Frank for her own profit is, sickening.
Though some of the interviews feel a bit staged or edited to guide the viewer toward a conclusion, the core facts remain striking. People close to Lisa Frank and her ex-husband and former co-CEO James Green describe long hours, unrealistic demands, and a toxic emotional environment.
I highly recommend giving this one a watch. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the brightest brands have the darkest shadows—and that power, no matter how it's packaged, can corrupt.
That's what you missed! Happy Scrolling ✨