I remember the first time I saw one in the wild. It was clipped to a tote bag on the subway, a tiny, fluffy monster with big ears and an even bigger personality, just swinging along. I was already deep into collecting the vinyl figures, but seeing a labubu pendant out in the world, being used and loved, felt different. It was a signal, a little flag for fellow fans. I knew I needed one.
But then I went to look, and the confusion set in. There isn't just one kind of Labubu pendant. There are full plush ones, vinyl-faced ones, tiny metal ones, and a dozen different series. As someone who now stocks these at PopNya, I get this question daily: "Which one should I get?"
Most of the time, the debate comes down to two main styles: the newer hybrid style, like The Monsters Fall in Wild Series Vinyl Plush Doll Pendant, and the classic, fully plush style. They look similar in photos, but trust me, in your hands and on your bag, they are worlds apart.
The New Hybrid: The Vinyl-Faced Pendant
Let's start with the current fan favorite, the Fall in Wild series. These guys are a hybrid: a hard vinyl head, just like the regular blind box figures, attached to a soft, plush body.
The first time I got a case of these for the shop, I was skeptical. Would the textures feel weird together? Would the head be too heavy? But after opening a few, I got it. The vinyl head means Kasing Lung's character design is perfectly preserved. The face has that clean, sharp, expressive look that we love from the figures. The paint is precise. The eyes are glossy. It is Labubu, just with a cuddly little body.
The plush part is small, more of an accent than the main event. It gives it that "doll" feel without turning it into a full-on stuffed animal. The hardware is a solid lobster clasp with a little branded tag. It's decent. I've had mine on my keys for months, and it hasn't failed, but I wouldn't go rock climbing with it.
Here's the real-world info you won't find on a product page:
The biggest advantage of this style is durability and cleanliness. Life happens. Your bag gets put on the floor, you spill a little coffee, it gets rained on. With the Fall in Wild pendants, you can just wipe the vinyl face clean. A damp cloth, a little bit of gentle soap, and it looks brand new. This is a massive, massive plus for something that's meant to be an everyday accessory.
The plush body can still get a bit grimy over time, especially on the lighter-colored designs like Soy, but it's a much smaller area to worry about. I've had customers send me photos of their year-old Fall in Wild pendants, and while the plush is a bit more loved, the face is still perfect.
The market for these is also fascinating. Retail for a blind box is around $15-$18. But the chase figures? That's a different story. The "Dandelion" from this series, with its little translucent details, is a stunner. I saw one sell in a collector's group for $95 just last week. The demand is real. It's not just a cute accessory; it's a piece of the collecting game.
The Classic Cuddle: The Full Plush Pendant
Before the vinyl-faced craze, there were the full plush pendants. Think of the "Sweet" series or the "Exciting" series. These are pure, unadulterated fluff. The entire thing, head and body, is made of soft plush material, with embroidered or appliquéd details for the face.
The appeal is obvious. They are incredibly soft and squishy. Holding one is like holding a tiny, monster-shaped cloud. They have a very cozy, comforting vibe. For people who love the softer side of Labubu, these are a dream. They look less like a "collectible" and more like a traditional keychain charm, which some people prefer.
They feel lighter than the vinyl-hybrid pendants, and the weight is more evenly distributed, so they dangle a little differently from a bag. The faces, being embroidered, have a softer, less defined look. It's a different aesthetic entirely, more storybook, less art toy.
But here's my honest warning, the part the product descriptions leave out.
As a daily-use bag charm, I honestly cannot recommend the full plush pendants. I know, hot take. But hear me out. They are dirt and dust magnets. That beautiful, soft fur that feels so good in your hand will pick up every single piece of lint it comes into contact with. If you have a pet, forget about it.
And cleaning them? It's a nightmare. You can't just wipe them down. You have to spot-clean them carefully, and even then, you risk matting the fur or messing up the texture. I had a white one from the Sweet series on my backpack for two weeks, and by the end, it looked like it had been through a war. It was grey, the fur was clumping, and it just looked… sad.
These full plush versions are, in my opinion, better suited for being display pieces. Hang them from a pinboard in your room, clip them to a shelf, or attach them to a bag that you only use on special, very clean occasions. For the rough-and-tumble of daily life, they just don't hold up.
Real Talk: My Seller & Collector Verdict
So, which one wins?
For 90% of people who ask me this question at PopNya, I point them toward the vinyl-faced pendants like the Fall in Wild series. They offer the best of both worlds: the perfect, collectible-quality face of a vinyl figure and the soft, tactile feel of a plush. They are simply more practical for their intended purpose. They last longer, they're easier to clean, and they still have that undeniable Labubu charm.
The full plush pendants are for a different kind of collector. They are for the purist who values softness above all, the person who will display it more than they will use it. And that's totally fine! But you need to know what you're getting into.
On my own work tote, I have the Chestnut from the Fall in Wild series. It's been on there for three months, survived a minor coffee splash (which wiped right off the vinyl face, thank god), and been tossed around in my car. It still looks fantastic. The plush body has held up surprisingly well, and the vinyl head looks as good as the day I pulled it from the box. That, for me, is the ultimate test.
Beyond the Basics: What Are "Labubu Special Pendants"?
You might also see the term "labubu special pendants" floating around. This isn't one specific series, but a category. It generally refers to any pendant that's harder to get.
This includes: 1. The "Secret" or "Chase" Figures: Every blind box series has a secret figure, which is much rarer than the others. The secret from a pendant series is the ultimate special pendant. For example, the Rainbow from the "Weather" series is a highly sought-after special pendant. Its aftermarket price is often 10-20x the price of a single box. 2. Event Exclusives: Sometimes Pop Mart releases special pendants for conventions, store openings, or holidays. These are produced in limited numbers and are usually not sold in regular stores. They become instant collector's items. 3. Older, Discontinued Series: A regular pendant from a series that's been out of production for years can become a "special pendant" simply due to scarcity.
My advice on these? Tread carefully. It's easy to get caught up in the hype and overpay. Unless you're a die-hard completionist trying to fill a gap in your LABUBU collection, think twice before dropping $200 on a tiny plush keychain. The joy is in the hunt, but so are the scams. If you're new to this, I wrote up a whole guide on The Honest Guide to Buying a Labubu Keychain (Without Getting Scammed) that covers more ground on spotting fakes and fair pricing.
Pin for Love takedown](https://k11vvh-ic.myshopify.com/blogs/labubu/macaron-vs-pin-for-love-an-honest-takedown-of-the-mini-labubu-keychain-craze), but for a proper labubu doll pendant, the Fall in Wild and full plush styles are the main contenders.
