Berlin has long been a city where subcultures are born, thrive, and evolve into global movements. From techno to street    labubu  art, the German capital has a reputation for transforming underground aesthetics into mainstream influence. Now, a new cultural wave is sweeping through the city — the rise of Labubu, a mischievous creature from the POP MART universe, which has rapidly transitioned from niche collectible to high-fashion street icon.

As enthusiasts, retailers, and influencers converge across Berlin’s trendsetting neighbourhoods, Labubu has become more than just a toy — it’s a cultural statement. It unites fashion, art, design, and nostalgia into one powerful symbol of identity and individuality.

The Arrival of Labubu in Berlin’s Trendsetting Districts

From Kreuzberg’s graffiti-lined streets to Mitte’s minimalist luxury boutiques, Labubu has seamlessly infiltrated both raw street corners and polished retail spaces. Resale shops, anime-inspired stores, and modern lifestyle retailers now prominently feature limited-edition Labubu series, attracting a mix of sneakerheads, designers, and young professionals.

Berliners deeply value authenticity, and Labubu’s hand-painted charm and unpredictable expressions resonate strongly with the city’s love for imperfection and rebellion. Unlike mass-market collectibles, each Labubu carries an attitude — quirky, defiant, and unapologetically odd — exactly what Berlin celebrates.

Where Berliners Are Buying and Trading Labubu

While POP MART’s official global expansions have made Labubu widely accessible, Berlin’s market operates with a distinctive twist — blending retail with underground trade:

• Mitte’s boutique lifestyle stores are introducing curated Labubu capsules alongside fashion apparel.

• Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain flea markets now feature independent resellers flipping rare editions.

• WhatsApp and Telegram trading groups dedicated to POP MART figures are rapidly growing among German collectors.

• Local streetwear retailers are pairing Labubu blind boxes with sneaker raffles to create crossover hype drops.

Labubu is no longer just being bought — it is being chased, traded, and flaunted like streetwear.

The Crossover Between Fashion and Collectibles

One of the most fascinating elements of Labubu’s Berlin takeover is its unexpected rise in the fashion scene. High-end and streetwear brands alike have started styling Labubu into visual campaigns and in-store displays. Influencers pose with Labubu the way others would hold a luxury handbag.

Berlin Fashion Week saw stylists adding Labubu figures to runway fits, clipped onto bags, layered into jewellery stacks, or even printed on oversized tees. The message is clear — Labubu is no longer just a shelf decoration. It is an accessory.

Why Berliners Are Emotionally Attached to Labubu

Collecting Labubu is not just commerce — it’s community-building. Unlike traditional figurines, Labubu’s persona is deliberately ambiguous. Is it cute? Creepy? Cheerful? sinister? Every person projects their own story onto it.

In a city that thrives on individualism, Labubu offers Berliners something rare — an identity code without boundaries or rules. Whether displayed on work desks in co-working spaces or hanging from festival backpacks at Berghain queues, Labubu communicates personality without words.

The Economics of Hype: Labubu as Modern Art Investment

The explosion of Labubu in Berlin mirrors the rise of art toys as investment commodities. Limited edition Labubu drops, particularly collaborations with designers such as Kasing Lung and Molly series crossovers, are now flipping for 3x-5x retail price on European resale platforms.

Collectors compare Labubu’s market trajectory to early KAWS figures — today’s toy shelf may be tomorrow’s gallery piece. Berlin’s art scene, already accustomed to hybridised mediums, is now seeing Labubu displayed in creative studios and pop-up art exhibitions.

For many young Berliners, owning Labubu is an affordable entry into the world of art collecting — one that feels playful rather than pretentious.

Events and Community Meetups Building the Labubu Movement

As with all great subcultures, community is the engine. Berlin has already seen Labubu swap meets in Tempelhofer Feld, collectible photo walks, and exclusive blind box unboxing events hosted inside sneaker stores and comic shops.

Upcoming rumours hint at a Labubu-themed techno night, where visuals, merchandise, and light installations are inspired by POP MART characters. Berlin does not merely adopt trends — it transforms them into experiences.

Labubu as a Symbol of Berlin’s Hybrid Culture

What makes Berlin unique is its effortless merging of the rough and refined, the humorous and serious, the chaotic and curated. Labubu inherits this same duality. It is childlike yet sophisticated, subversive yet collectible, unplanned yet highly sought-after.

In many ways, Labubu is the perfect Berlin icon — wild but lovable, unusual yet instantly recognisable.

The Future of Labubu in Berlin’s Creative Ecosystem

With streetwear brands already approaching POP MART for European-exclusive collaborations, Berlin is poised to become the epicentre of Labubu culture in Western Europe. Expect to see:

• Artist-customised Labubu exhibitions

• Labubu-themed fashion capsules

• Collabs with tattoo studios and graffiti artists

• Outdoor sculptures and guided collectible tours

Labubu is not just visiting Berlin. It is becoming part of its DNA.

Final Thoughts: Labubu Is More Than a Trend — It’s a Movement

From apartment shelves in Neukölln to glass displays in luxury flagships, Labubu has leapt across Berlin’s cultural spectrum in record time. It is a testament to how modern collectors no longer separate art, fashion, and play — they merge them into lifestyle.

In a world overloaded with     LABUBU Box  polished perfection, Labubu thrives by being weird, unpredictable, and real — exactly how Berlin likes things.