Labubu for life: how did a viral doll became a ‘social currency’? Just ask these diehard fans

Price hikes may frustrate some, but the mood at a California meetup shows why the trend isn't slowing down yet

Labubu-shaped bounce houses. Labubu-themed drinks. A chance to meet and greet a life-size Labubu.

This was the scene at a recent meetup at an outdoor shopping center in southern California, where dozens of people gathered for the chance to get their hands on one of the wildly popular fluffy dolls.