I still remember the morning the Mokoko Labubu Close to Sweet plush dropped. It was chaos. Not the fun, "let's all line up for a new release" chaos. It was the digital, soul-crushing kind. I had the Pop Mart page open, my payment info pre-filled, finger hovering over the button. The clock ticked over. I clicked. "Sold Out."
It couldn't have been more than three seconds.
That's the reality of the Labubu world right now, and this specific plush, the Labubu Mokoko Close to Sweet, is the perfect storm of hype, cuteness, and manufactured scarcity. As someone who runs PopNya and handles these toys every single day, I've seen a lot of crazy drops. But this one felt different. The frenzy was immediate, and the fallout on the secondary market was, and still is, absolutely wild.
So, what is the deal with this specific mokoko doll? And why did it break the internet for a solid week? Let's get into it.
First, What is Mokoko? Is it a Labubu?
This is a question I get a lot. Is it just Labubu in a fluffy white suit? Yes and no.
Mokoko is its own character within Kasing Lung's "The Monsters" universe. The character itself is a collaboration with another artist, Moko Ko (hence the name). Think of it like a crossover episode in your favorite TV show. Mokoko is this shy, cloud-like creature that is often seen alongside Zimomo and Labubu. It has its own identity, but it's so intertwined with the Labubu aesthetic that Pop Mart created this perfect hybrid: a Labubu figure wearing a Mokoko suit.
The original Mokoko figures were smaller, often keychains or part of a blind box series. But the Mokoko Close to Sweet is a full-fledged vinyl-faced plush doll. It's a format that has proven to be insanely popular, combining the soft, cuddly nature of a stuffed animal with the collectible, high-quality faceplate of a designer vinyl toy. It's the best of both worlds, and collectors, especially those who love the labubu sweet aesthetic, went nuts for it.
Unboxing "Close to Sweet": My Hands-On Experience
After missing the initial drop, I did what any dedicated (and slightly obsessed) seller would do: I sourced one through my network. I had to see it, feel it, and understand if the hype was justified.
The box itself is beautiful. It has this dreamy, pastel gradient with illustrations of Labubu as Mokoko floating among clouds and sweets. It's a step up from the standard blind box packaging. But the real moment of truth is when you slide the inner tray out.
The first thing I noticed was the texture. The plush "fur" is incredibly soft. It's not the cheap, matted material you find on carnival prizes. It's a dense, short-pile fleece that feels genuinely premium. The stitching is clean, the ears are floppy but well-attached, and the little embroidered heart on the chest is a perfect touch.
But here's a detail most unboxing videos miss: the zipper.It's a high-quality, color-matched zipper with a custom cloud-shaped pull tab. You can actually unzip the hood to get a better look at the Labubu vinyl head underneath. It's a completely unnecessary detail, but it's the kind of thing that separates a good designer toy from a great one. It shows they cared about the little things.
The vinyl faceplate is standard Labubu excellence. The paint is crisp, the eyes have that signature mischievous glint, and the slight blush on the cheeks is perfectly applied. It's securely attached to the plush body, with no weird gaps or glue marks. This isn't some quick cash-grab; the pop mart labubu mokoko close to sweet is a well-constructed piece.
The Price: From Retail to Ridiculous
Okay, let's talk numbers. This is where things get painful.
The labubu close to sweet retail price was around $28-$30 USD, depending on the region and retailer. A completely fair price for a plush of this size and quality.
The labubu mokoko original price became a distant memory within minutes of the drop.
I checked eBay and StockX less than an hour after it sold out. Listings were already popping up for $120, $150, even $200. As of writing this, the price on StockX has settled a bit, but it's still consistently trading for over $100. I've seen them sell in collector groups for upwards of $180, especially for "in-hand" US-shipped ones.
Why? It's a perfect storm: 1. Limited Supply: Pop Mart is a master of creating demand. They knew this would be a hit, but they likely produced a limited run to ensure it sold out instantly, fueling the FOMO cycle. 2. TikTok/Instagram Effect: Unboxing videos of this plush went viral. The algorithm loves cute, aesthetic things, and the Mokoko Close to Sweet is peak algorithm bait. Every collector saw it, and everyone wanted it. 3. The Plush Format: Unlike blind boxes where you might get a design you don't love, this was a single, guaranteed-cute item. There was no gamble, which makes it even more desirable for people who just want this specific one.
This price explosion isn't new in the Labubu world. We saw it with the Exciting Macaron Labubu series, where certain figures skyrocketed in value. But the speed at which the Mokoko plush climbed was breathtaking.
Is This "Mokoko V2"? A Quick Comparison
I've seen some people refer to this as the Mokoko V2. That's not an official name, but I understand the sentiment. It's a significant evolution from the first Mokoko-themed items.
The original Mokoko keychain plushies were much smaller, about 4-5 inches tall. They were cute, but the quality was more in line with a standard accessory. The "Close to Sweet" doll is a proper collectible plush, standing around 7 inches tall. The materials are better, the vinyl face is a huge upgrade, and the overall presence is much more substantial.
Compared to other Labubu plushies, like the "Big into Energy" ones, the Mokoko feels a bit more special. The "Big into Energy" plushies were fantastic, but they were essentially just larger, softer versions of the vinyl figures. The Mokoko plush feels like a unique concept, the suit, the zipper, the character crossover. It has more of a story to it, which adds to its appeal. If you're looking to start collecting, understanding the differences between series is key; it's a topic I covered in my ultimate guide to LABUBU dolls.
Some collectors who got their hands on items from Popland Mokoko (a specific retailer or distributor) reported slightly different box conditions, but the doll itself seems to be consistent across the board. The main takeaway is that this isn't just another variant; it feels like a new benchmark for Labubu plush releases.
Real Talk: My Honest Verdict on the Mokoko Labubu
So, here's the part where I give you my honest opinion as a seller and a collector. Is the Mokoko Labubu Close to Sweet worth the hype and the insane secondary market price?
At retail price? 100% yes. It's an absolutely fantastic piece. It's well-made, incredibly cute, and a standout in any Labubu collection. For $30, it's a no-brainer.
At secondary market prices ($100+)? It depends.
Look, I'm a business owner. I understand supply and demand. But I'm also a fan. And as a fan, paying over $100 for this plush feels… painful. The quality is excellent, but it's not "$150 excellent." You are not paying for materials or craftsmanship at that point. You are paying for hype. You are paying for the "I have it and you don't" factor.
If you are a die-hard Mokoko fan, have disposable income, and this is your absolute grail, then go for it. It will make you happy, and you can't put a price on that. But if you're a more casual collector or you're feeling pressured by the FOMO, I would honestly advise you to wait.
Pop Mart knows they have a massive hit on their hands.They would be leaving money on the table if they didn't. We saw this happen with the Have a Seat Labubu series, which saw restocks and new versions after the initial hype.
My advice: Set up alerts on the Pop Mart app. Keep an eye on official retailer channels like Pop Land Mokoko and others. Don't give in to the panic-buying from scalpers. The joy of getting it for a fair price will be so much sweeter.
The labubu mokoko close to sweet popmart release was a masterclass in marketing, but it also highlighted the more frustrating side of collecting. It's a beautiful mokoko doll, but no plush is worth going into debt over.
This whole situation reminds me of the craze around specific colors, like the hunt for the perfect pink Labubu, where scarcity drives prices to unbelievable levels. It's the nature of the game, but it's important to play it smart.
For now, I'm happy to have one in my personal collection to appreciate, but I'm also cautioning my customers at PopNya to be patient. There will be other cute Labubus. There always are. You can always browse our current LABUBU collection to find something you love that won't require taking out a small loan.
The Mokoko Labubu is a perfect, fluffy representation of the designer toy scene in 2024: adorable, desirable, and almost impossible to get at a fair price. It's a trophy, for sure. But sometimes, the best move in a frantic trophy hunt is to just sit back and wait for the next one.
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