On a balmy evening in Miami, the Magic City Flea Market buzzed with anticipation. But it wasn’t vintage vinyl or street food drawing a crowd—it was a line of eager collectors, clutching plush toys with wide eyes and toothy grins, all waiting for their turn at a unique artistic experience. At the center of it all stood Jonathan Martin, a local artist who has become something of a sensation in the world of Labubu customization.
Labubu, the quirky, monster-like doll with its distinctive smirk and oversized head, is the brainchild of Hong Kong-born Belgian artist Kasing Lung. Originally part of Lung’s "The Monsters" storybook series, Labubu figures have since taken on a life of their own, thanks to Beijing-based collectible toy giant Pop Mart. As reported by USA TODAY, these dolls are now sold worldwide, and their popularity has soared on the back of Pop Mart’s "blind box" model—a system where buyers don’t know exactly which figure they’ll receive until they open the box, sometimes revealing a rare or coveted design.
Pop Mart’s approach has only stoked the fervor. On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at exactly 10 p.m. ET, the company restocked its much-hyped "Big Into Energy" Labubu blind boxes, but with a twist: the restock was available exclusively through the Pop Now feature in the Pop Mart app. As detailed on Pop Mart’s website, customers could purchase up to six blind boxes, each retailing for $27.99, not including tax and shipping. Orders over $29 using the Pop Now feature even qualified for free shipping—a tempting offer for collectors hoping to bolster their stash.
Yet, securing a Labubu is no easy feat. These restocks are notorious for selling out in under a minute. The rules are strict: only six boxes per customer, no full sets available, and purchases can only be made through the app’s Pop Now feature, which lets users virtually select and open their blind boxes before they’re shipped. The app itself is a gatekeeper—users must ensure it’s fully updated, and even something as small as a VPN can disrupt the buying process.
Why the frenzy? Part of the allure lies in the mystery and exclusivity. As USA TODAY notes, the most popular Labubu boxes, including the "Exciting Macaron" and "Have a Seat" series, can only be bought through the app, not the website. That scarcity, combined with the thrill of potentially scoring a rare variant, has made each restock a race against the clock. Collectors are advised to prep in advance—saving shipping details, ensuring a strong internet connection, and being ready to pounce the second the clock strikes ten.
But the Labubu craze isn’t just about collecting. It’s become a full-blown cultural phenomenon, morphing from a simple toy into a canvas for personal expression. Enter Jonathan Martin, whose journey into Labubu customization began after he spotted the trend on social media. Martin, a Miami Beach server by day and artist by night, was captivated by videos of people in cities like Los Angeles and New York giving their Labubus tattoos—real tattoo needles, ink, and all.
“A Labubu, I would say is a fashion toy. I would say it's become an accessory, and it was really popularized by celebrities who wore them as bag charms,” Martin told WLRN. “People see celebrities running off with a certain trend and it kind of just catches on. And this is one of 'em that kind of spread like a wildfire.”
Inspired, Martin began practicing on secondhand vinyl dolls before offering his services at the Magic City Flea Market, where his wife sells vintage clothing. The response was immediate. Even before he could finish setting up his table, a trio of customers was already in line, plush toys in hand, ready for a personal touch. What started as a side hustle quickly became a sought-after service, with Martin now appearing at pop-up events across South Florida.
Martin’s process is meticulous. He charges between $12 and $20 for each tattoo, with an extra $10 for piercings or rhinestones. His toolkit includes a tattoo gun, needles, disinfectant, and some less conventional items—washable markers, painters tape, and plastic food storage bags. “I set 'em in a Ziploc bag and then I wrap all the fur around the face in painters tape, you know, just to protect it as much as possible,” he explained. “I always say these things are hard to get and some people pay a pretty good amount of money for them. So the last thing I want to do is ruin somebody’s Labubu, you know?”
Customization has become a social event. At a recent pop-up, Elizabeth Santiesteban arrived with four personalized Labubus and one more ready for a new tattoo—a crown with a rhinestone for her daughter Nikki. “I’m getting a crown tattoo and it’s gonna have a little rhinestone in the middle for my daughter Nikki,” she shared. Her daughter Nicole echoed the excitement, telling WLRN, “I think that’s so cool. The fact that they’ve taken it this far to [get] tattoos and personalize. The clothes, the rhinestones. I think it’s just so interesting. Like, when a fad starts, people just go crazy with it.”
The trend isn’t confined to Miami. Alyssa Roelans and her two daughters, also in line, recalled seeing "Labubu Paloozas" and fashion shows in New York’s Washington Square Park. “We've been talking about getting our Labubus tattooed for a few months now. It's cool to see it happen in Miami,” Roelans said.
For Martin, the work is more than just a creative outlet—it’s a lifeline during South Florida’s slow summer season, when restaurant jobs can become precarious. “It's pretty drastic where what I make on a weekly basis during the summer is probably almost half of what I make during the busy season. So, this kind of couldn’t have come at a more perfect time for me to supplement my income and help me get through the slower season of the restaurants,” he explained.
Beyond the financial boost, Martin sees his Labubu tattooing as a way to bring joy in uncertain times. “Life is really serious and we're in a weird state right now, right? And there's a lot of turmoil; and there's a lot of things going on in the real world that people wanna run away from,” he reflected. “I think it's nice to be able to have things that we can seek comfort in. I've seen the joy that it brings people. And I think that's the main reason why I've been doing it.”
Looking ahead, Martin hopes his work on Labubus will serve as a springboard to a broader artistic career. “There's really only so far I could go with it. What my hope is, that I would be able to take this and have it grow me as an artist. And hopefully be able to do more tattooing from tattooing the Labubus. That's kind of my goal.”
As Labubu’s popularity continues to rise—fueled by app-exclusive restocks, social media buzz, and the creativity of artists like Martin—one thing is certain: this plush monster has become much more than a toy. It’s a symbol of community, individuality, and the simple joys that connect us, one toothy grin at a time.
