It feels like it happened overnight. One minute, my Instagram feed was normal. The next, every other post featured a designer handbag with a little monster hanging off it. A fluffy, big-eared, toothy-grinned monster. The labubu bag charm had arrived, and it arrived with the force of a tidal wave.
As someone who runs PopNya and has been deep in the designer toy world for years, I've seen trends come and go. But this is different. The demand is astronomical, fueled by celebrities and a perfect storm of social media hype. And with that hype comes a ton of questions, confusion, and unfortunately, a mountain of fakes.
The biggest point of confusion I see from customers is what a "Labubu bag charm" even is. It's not just one product. People are using two very different types of Labubu figures to get the look.
On one side, you have The Monsters Exciting Macaron series, the fluffy, plush-like figures that were practically designed for this. On the other, you have people taking standard vinyl figures from series like The Monsters Fall in Wild and turning them into charms themselves.
They give off completely different vibes and, more importantly, have wildly different pros and cons for daily use. So let's break it down, collector to collector.
The Darling of the Moment: The Monsters Exciting Macaron Series
This is the one you've probably seen the most. The "fluffy" one. The official labubu bag charm popmart release that comes with a little chain already attached. When we first got these in stock at PopNya, I was genuinely impressed. They feel incredible. The flocking (that's the fuzzy coating) is soft and dense, and the pastel colors are just perfect. They look like little candy creatures.
Holding one, you get the appeal instantly. The "Soymilk" is a beautiful creamy white, "Lychee Berry" is a perfect soft pink, and the secret "Toffee" is just gorgeous. They have a satisfying weight, and the included hardware, while a bit basic, gets the job done. It feels like a premium labubu doll charm, a true accessory.
But here's the part the glamour shots on Instagram don't show you.
The Flocking Nightmare.
I have to be brutally honest: the flocking is a dirt magnet. A dust magnet. A stain magnet. It's the beautiful white carpet of the toy world. I put a white Soymilk Macaron on my black work tote for three days as a test. By the end of it, the poor guy looked like he'd been working as a chimney sweep. The pristine white flocking had picked up every little fiber and speck of dust from my bag, my car, my desk, everything.
A customer emailed me last month, devastated because her Lychee Berry had a coffee smudge that just would not come out. You can't exactly scrub them without ruining the flocking. Darker colors like "Sesame Bean" or "Chestnut Cocoa" are much more forgiving, but they will still get grimy over time. This is the single biggest complaint I hear.
Then there's the chain. The little ball labubu bag chain it comes with is… fine. It's okay for gentle use on a purse you baby. But if you're thinking of putting this on a backpack or a bag you use daily, I've seen them break. The little connector is the weak point. Many serious collectors immediately swap it out for a sturdier clasp or carabiner.
And we have to talk about the fakes. Because the Macaron series is so popular, it's the most counterfeited Labubu product on the market right now. The fakes are getting scarily good. The biggest tell I've found, after handling hundreds of both real and fake ones, is the texture and color. The authentic flocking is soft and matte. Many fakes have a slightly greasy or shiny feel to them, and the colors are often a bit too saturated, almost neon compared to the soft pastel of the real deal. If you're shopping on a third-party site, be extremely careful. Getting a good deal on a labubu bag keychain often means you're not getting the real thing.
The Old-School Workhorse: The DIY Vinyl Figure Charm
Now for the other option, which is gaining traction among more seasoned collectors. This involves taking a standard vinyl Labubu figure, like those from The Monsters Fall in Wild, the Forest Concert, or any other series, and making it into a charm yourself.
At first, this sounds like a lot of work. And maybe a little sacrilegious. Drilling a hole into a collectible toy? I know, it hurts my heart a little too. But hear me out.
The Indestructible Advantage.
The number one reason to go this route is durability. A standard vinyl Labubu is made of PVC. You can drop it, knock it against a doorframe, spill your latte on it, and you can just wipe it clean. It's the perfect labubu backpack charm because it can handle the chaos of daily life. It won't get fuzzy, it won't stain, and the paint is generally very robust.
You also get way more character variety. The Macaron series is cute, but they all have the same pose. With the vinyl figures, you can have a Labubu holding a mushroom, wearing a little monster costume, or making a dozen different goofy faces. It allows for more personality.
The DIY aspect has spawned a whole cottage industry on sites like Etsy, with people selling pre-drilled figures or little kits with a screw-in eyelet and a clasp. It's a fun way to customize your look. You can pick your exact figure, your exact hardware, and create a labubu charm that's unique to you.
But it's not all sunshine and rainbows.
The biggest downside is, well, the drilling. You need a small pin vise (a hand drill for crafts) and a steady hand. One slip and you could crack your figure or put the hole in the wrong spot. I've seen absolute horror stories on Reddit of people trying to drill their rare Tycoco from the Fall in Wild series and shattering its head. My advice? If you're going to do this, practice on a common figure you don't care about first. Or better yet, buy one that's already been converted by a reputable seller.
The other minor issue is the weight and sound. Vinyl figures can be a bit heavier than the Macarons and will make a 'clanking' sound against your bag's zippers or hardware. It doesn't bother me, but some people find it annoying. It definitely doesn't have that soft, quiet labubu doll purse feel.
Real Talk: My Honest Verdict
So, which one do I actually recommend?
Honestly, it depends entirely on how you live your life and what bag this is for.
The Monsters Exciting Macaron is a high-fashion, high-maintenance beauty. It's like a silk blouse. It's stunning, it makes a statement, but you have to be careful with it. If you want a charm for a special occasion bag, or you're someone who is meticulously clean and careful with your things, the Macaron is a fantastic choice. It's the original, the one that started the trend, and its tactile softness is undeniable. Just maybe stick to the darker colors if you're worried about dirt.
The DIY vinyl figure charm is your everyday workhorse. It's the rugged denim jacket of the charm world. If you want a charm for your daily tote, your school backpack, or you're just a bit clumsy (like me), a vinyl figure is the far more practical option. It's tougher, easier to clean, and offers more variety. The thought of drilling it is scary, but the result is a worry-free companion for your bag.
Personally, for my go-to daily bag, I've started using a vinyl charm. I love my Macarons, but I found myself getting anxious about them getting dirty. I've relegated them to my "going out" bags that see less action.
It's also worth remembering that these aren't the only options. Pop Mart has released smaller, official mini-keychains from series like Pin for Love, which are a great, more affordable, and durable alternative. I actually did a whole breakdown comparing the Macaron vs. Pin for Love mini keychains if you're curious about the smaller guys.
The Price Bubble and A Word of Warning
I can't end this without talking about the price. The hype is real, and so is the reseller market. A single Macaron blind box retails for around $17. I have seen the secret Toffee sell for over $200, and even common ones like Lychee Berry fetching $80-$100 on eBay.
Please, do not give in to the FOMO.
This is a price bubble. Pop Mart is a massive company; they will produce more. The hype will eventually calm down. Paying five times the retail price for a common figure is just feeding the scalpers. Be patient. Check official retailers (like us at PopNya, when we can get them!). Wait for restocks.
If you are buying from a reseller, demand pictures of the actual item, not stock photos. Ask for photos of the box and the anti-counterfeit QR code. If a price seems too good to be true, it is 100% a fake.myshopify.com/blogs/labubu/the-honest-guide-to-buying-a-labubu-keychain-without-getting-scammed) to help people navigate it.
Ultimately, whether you choose the fluffy Macaron or a sturdy vinyl figure, the goal is to add a little bit of Kasing Lung's monstrous joy to your day. There isn't a single right answer, just the right one for you and your bag. Take a moment to browse the full LABUBU collection and see all the different characters and styles. You might find that the perfect purse labubu for you isn't the one all over Instagram, but a different little monster that speaks to you instead.
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