Labubu vs Smiski: Which collectable blind box is your favourite?

Dubai: If you are someone who is on social media and scrolling through endless reels and TikToks, then you know what a Labubu is. The most recent viral trend in Dubai, besides the Dubai chocolate, Labubu is the hottest charm in town.

But did you know Labubu has a competition? Which in my opinion, is much cuter. The Smiski.

What are these collectables?

Labubu: A character created by Hong Kong-based artist, Kasing Lung, the Labubu is part of his ‘The Monsters’ toy series, which is produced by PopMart. These dolls are sold as blind boxes, meaning you won’t know which Labubu character you are purchasing until you unbox it.

They are elf-like creatures with pointy ears and distinctive jagged teeth, usually displaying a mischievous grin. Unfortunately, they do remind me of two horror movies, Smile and IT.

Smiski: Small glow-in-the-dark collectibles, Smiski’s are collectable figures from Japan. The collectables are created by Toru Soeya at Dreams Inc., a Japanese company founded in 1996, and were first launched in 2015. These figures are known to be mysterious, that hide in nooks and corners. The name Smiski is inspired by the Japanese word sumi, meaning corner or nook.

They ae figures that are doing different activities like yoga, working, exercising or even cheering you. Smiski’s, like Labubu’s are also sold as blind boxes.

Where to find them in the UAE?

While both are popular collectables, Labubu has gained more popularity because of celebrities around the world. Lisa from famous k-pop girl group BlackPink, Rihanna, Dua Lipa and more were seen sporting Labubu charms on their bags – instantly increasing its popularity.

Labubu’s, because of their popularity, are a little hard to find as they are sold out quickly. However, if you’re in Dubai, you can now purchase them directly from the PopMart store with prices beginning at Dh79. They are also sold at The Little Things stores located at Bluewaters, Dubai Mall, and Mall of the Emirates.

They are also sold at Mad Kicks in Box Park, Dubai, with each Labubu priced at Dh300, and a set of six blind boxes for Dh1,250.

And as for Smiski’s you can get them at some Carrefour stores across the UAE, where they stock various Smiski series. It is also sold at The Little Things store, Kinokuniya Bookstore in Dubai Mall, as well as online stores like Amazon and Noon. But do beware of counterfeit versions online.

It is quite clear that one (Labubu) collectable is more viral than the other (Smiski) in Dubai right now, but which one would you get?