KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — What started as a children’s book character in 2015 has transformed into one of the most sought-after collectibles on the market. Labubu, a small, whimsical creature designed by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung and mass-produced by Chinese toy company Pop Mart has taken the toy world and social media by storm.
“It’s just this cute little creature,” said Kyri Tombras, a Knoxville-based Labubu collector. “They’re called ‘the monsters,’ but they’re fun. You can put them on your purse or your backpack.”
For Tombras, the characters evoke a sense of nostalgia…