I remember the day the first images of the pop mart labubu mokoko close to sweet vinyl plush doll leaked. It was chaos. My collector group chats exploded. Every message was some variation of "OMG I NEED IT." And I get it. A pastel pink, fluffy Mokoko with a sweet, sleepy vinyl face and little embroidered hearts? It was scientifically engineered in a lab to drain the wallets of LABUBU fans.
It was also labeled "POP LAND Limited." Those three words are a death sentence for casual buyers and a dinner bell for scalpers. It means limited stock, regional exclusivity (at first), and guaranteed pandemonium. As a store owner at PopNya, my first thought wasn't "I want one," it was "How on earth am I going to get stock of this for my customers without it costing a fortune?"
The drop was exactly as predicted. Sold out in seconds. The aftermarket prices went vertical almost immediately. I saw listings pop up on StockX and eBay for three, four, even five times the retail price before the dolls had even shipped. It was the ZIMOMO "I Found You" madness all over again, but this time, it was pink and fluffy.
After weeks of navigating supplier chains and watching the market like a hawk, I finally got my hands on one. Not just for the store, but one for my personal collection. I had to know if the hype was real.
The Unboxing: Bigger and Softer Than I Expected
The box itself is substantial. It's not your typical blind box packaging. It's a proper, display-worthy window box with beautiful art of Mokoko surrounded by sweets. My first surprise was the size. The photos online don't do it justice; this is a decent-sized plush, about 21cm tall. It feels more like a small stuffed animal than a typical designer toy.
Opening it up, you're hit with that specific, new-toy smell, a mix of fresh vinyl and whatever synthetic material they use for the plush. The doll is secured with a few plastic ties. Once freed, the second surprise hit me: the softness.
The plush material is incredibly soft and dense. It's not that cheap, carnival-prize fluff. It has a velvety, minky feel that's genuinely pleasant to touch. The color is a perfect dusty rose, not an obnoxious bubblegum pink. The little details are what really sell it. The tiny embroidered hearts on its chest and the soles of its feet are stitched cleanly. No loose threads on mine, which is always a relief with Pop Mart plushes.
But the main event, of course, is the face.
What Exactly is a "Vinyl Plush Doll"?
This isn't a new concept, but Pop Mart is popularizing it. The head is a hollow, lightweight piece of vinyl, exactly like the head of a standard LABUBU blind box figure. It has that same smooth, matte finish. The face is then attached, seemingly glued and stitched, into the plush body.
The result is... Interesting.
It creates a really unique textural contrast. Your hands feel the soft, squishy body, but your eyes are drawn to the hard, perfectly sculpted face. It's a hybrid that tries to be both a cuddly companion and a sharp display piece. Does it succeed? Mostly.
You can't really cuddle with it like a normal teddy bear. I mean, you could, but pressing your cheek against a hard vinyl face isn't exactly cozy. It's more of a "sit on your shelf and look adorable" kind of plush. And it does that job perfectly. The vinyl face captures Kasing Lung's art style with a precision that fabric and embroidery just can't match. The subtle blush, the tiny open mouth, the sleepy eyes, it's all perfectly rendered.
This is a key point for anyone on the fence. If you want a LABUBU to snuggle, this probably isn't it. If you want a larger, more impactful display piece that screams "I love The Monsters," then the mokoko close to sweet doll is a home run.
Real Talk: Is This Doll Overhyped?
Okay, let's get into it. My honest seller/collector verdict.
Yes, it is absolutely overhyped. But it's also genuinely a fantastic piece.
Let me explain. The quality is there. The design is a 10/10. It's one of the cutest LABUBU-related items Pop Mart has ever produced. It photographs beautifully and has an undeniable shelf presence. When I put it next to my other LABUBU figures, it immediately becomes the centerpiece.
However, the secondary market price is, frankly, absurd. This doll retailed for around $35-$40 USD depending on the region. As of writing this, I'm seeing it consistently sell for $120-$180 on platforms like StockX. Is it three to five times "better" than a standard LABUBU blind box? No. Is it worth the price of a full case of a new series? Debatable.
The hype is driven by two things: manufactured scarcity (that "POP LAND Limited" tag) and incredible social media visibility. Everyone saw it on TikTok and Instagram and developed an intense case of FOMO. This is a classic designer toy bubble. It will eventually cool down, but it might take a while.
My advice: If you can find it for under $80, I'd say go for it. You're paying a premium, but it's not completely insane for a limited-run, popular character piece. If you're seeing prices north of $150, I would honestly wait. Pop Mart has a history of re-releasing popular items or releasing similar versions down the line. Don't let FOMO trick you into overpaying massively. The joy of getting the doll can be quickly overshadowed by the sting of buyer's remorse.
The "POP LAND Limited" Problem and Avoiding Scams
This "limited" branding is a powerful marketing tool. It creates an instant frenzy. But what does it really mean? Often, it means it was first released at a specific Pop Mart theme park or event, creating an initial bottleneck. Sometimes, these items get a wider, albeit still limited, online release later.
The bigger problem this creates is a breeding ground for fakes. With prices this high, counterfeiters are already hard at work. I've already seen some questionable listings pop up. The fakes will likely have cheaper plush material, sloppy stitching on the hearts, and a poorly painted or slightly "off-model" vinyl face. The box printing might be blurry or have incorrect colors.
Now more than ever, you need to be careful. If a deal seems too good to be true, it is. Stick to reputable sellers and platforms with buyer protection. And if you're ever unsure, it's worth reading up on how to spot fakes. Sometimes it just comes down to that gut feeling when you're looking at a box that something isn't right.
How Mokoko Fits into the Wider LABUBU Universe
For newer collectors, it might be confusing. Is this LABUBU? Is it a different character? Mokoko is one of the core characters in "The Monsters" family, created by artist Kasing Lung. While LABUBU is the main star with the buck teeth and floppy ears, Mokoko is the little round guy who often looks a bit mischievous or, in this case, sweetly sleepy. Some people even get the names mixed up, asking for a "La Fu Fu doll" when they mean LABUBU, so it's good to know the whole cast. If you're new to the lore, checking out a beginner's guide to the monster everyone wants can be super helpful.
This plush feels like a step up from the standard blind box series. It's in a similar category to the larger ZIMOMO plushes, like the viral "I Found You" ZIMOMO, which also combined different materials and came in a premium box. That doll also broke the internet, and it seems Pop Mart has learned that these limited, high-quality, mid-size plushes are a recipe for success. The ZIMOMO craze was a whole other level of madness, and this Mokoko release feels like its spiritual successor.
It's a different collecting experience. It's not about the thrill of the chase for a secret in a blind box. It's about acquiring a single, standalone art piece.
A Quick Tip on Caring For Your "Close to Sweet" Doll
So you got one. Congrats! Now how do you keep it looking pristine?
The plush body is a dust magnet. I recommend giving it a gentle once-over with a lint roller every now and then. For the vinyl face, do NOT use harsh chemicals. A simple microfiber cloth, maybe slightly dampened with water, is all you need to wipe away fingerprints or dust. Don't scrub it. The matte finish can be damaged.
And keep it out of direct sunlight! The pink plush will fade over time if it's sitting in a sunny window. Treat it like the piece of art it is.
Ultimately, the LABUBU Mokoko Close to Sweet Vinyl Plush Doll is a beautiful, well-made collector's item that fell victim to its own success. The design is flawless, but the hype and resulting price inflation have made it a complicated purchase. It's a perfect example of the current state of the designer toy market: incredible artistry colliding with rabid consumer demand and scalper-fueled scarcity.
My final thought? I love having it in my collection. It makes me happy every time I look at it. But I'm also glad I didn't have to pay the insane aftermarket price for it. If you're a die-hard fan of The Monsters and can justify the cost, you won't be disappointed with the doll itself. Just be a smart buyer.
If you're looking to add to your monster family without breaking the bank, you can always check out the LABUBU figures we have in stock at PopNya. We're always trying to keep things fair and accessible for real collectors.
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