Kasing Lung / Labubu
Kasing Lung is the Belgian-Hong Kong artist behind Labubu, The Monsters, and one of the most successful designer toy franchises in the world. His whimsical, mischievous creatures have taken the collectible toy market by storm.
Background
Kasing Lung was born in Belgium to Chinese parents and grew up surrounded by European fairy tales and Asian folklore. He began his career as a picture book illustrator before pivoting to designer toys. His Labubu character — a pointy-eared, impish creature — debuted in 2015 and became a global phenomenon through Pop Mart, the Chinese toy giant. Other characters include Pucky, Molly, and Dimoo. The brand now sells millions of blind boxes annually across Asia.
Style & Approach
Whimsical, mischievous, fairy-tale-inspired. The Monsters characters have a distinct look — round bodies, long pointed ears, and sly grins. Lung's illustration style draws from European storybook traditions (think Sendak or Gorey) filtered through a contemporary Hong Kong pop lens. His characters look innocent but always seem to be plotting something.
Notable Works
- Labubu — the flagship character, now a global icon
- The Monsters × Pop Mart blind box series
- Labubu plush keychains (the viral TikTok item)
- Picture books: 'The Monsters' series
- Large-scale Labubu sculptures at Pop Mart flagship stores
- Collaborations with artists and fashion brands
Why Collectors Care
Labubu is arguably the most successful designer toy character of the 2020s. The blind box model creates built-in scarcity (chase pieces, secret editions). Certain Labubu variants resell for 10-20x retail. The demographic is massive — from serious toy collectors to casual fans who just want a cute keychain.
From TOWHOM's Shelf
If TOWHOM carries any toys at all, Labubu is the first name to look for. The single-eye creature logo of TOWHOM may even be a subtle nod to this aesthetic. Blind box displays or Labubu plush would be a natural fit.