Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
HANGZHOU, June 22 (Xinhua) — A pajama factory in east China’s Jiangsu Province was idle for a while but was brought back to life by one plush toy.
“I didn’t like Labubu at first, but now I find it charming,” said Qiu Zunjun, general manager of Suzhou-based Shuofeng, a consumer goods company, with a smile.
Labubu took the world by storm with its signature mischievous smile and sharp teeth. Noticing the excitement, Qiu Zunjun saw a gap in the market – clothes for collectors to dress up their plush friends. He bought samples of the toys and fabric, and by the end of May, the factory was churning out clothes for the little rascal.
“In less than 20 days, we produced more than 80 types of doll clothes, earning about 170,000 yuan (approximately $23,643).” Qiu Zunjun estimates that monthly revenue could reach 1 million yuan if orders continue to increase.
Cool, cute, with bunny ears, this character from China has inspired people around the world to line up for a chance to own it. It is the latest example of the globalization of Chinese intellectual property (IP), marking China’s transition from being a manufacturing hub to a source of original cultural exports that are breathing life into traditional industries.
CHINESE IS CONQUERING THE WORLD
Maraid Vintena of Sydney, Australia, queued for an hour at a Pop Mart Labubu machine in her local area this week. “There are four Pop Mart machines near my house,” she said. “But most of the time they’re empty. I check the site about 10 times a day… I feel like I’m addicted, but it’s fun.”
“As you get older, life becomes a little mundane. A little joy like Labubu or a blind box is like a breath of fresh air,” Vintena explained her love for the doll.
Amid growing excitement, clothing brand Uniqlo has announced a collaboration with Pop Mart to release a new collection, The Monsters.
It is not the only IP from China to gain global recognition. From last year’s hit video game “Black Myth: Wukong,” which attracted 1.04 million concurrent players within an hour of its release, to the blockbuster “Nezha 2,” which has risen to fifth place in the history of the global box office, the success of Chinese IP demonstrates the growing cultural confidence and strength of the country’s industrial system, said Wang Ruotong, a researcher at Tianjin Foreign Studies University.
Beyond culture, a number of Chinese brands have also made it into the global top tier of IP, from artificial intelligence (AI) to electric vehicles and consumer electronics.
China maintained its growth momentum in new energy vehicle exports, with pure electric vehicle exports set to exceed 2 million units for the first time in 2024, according to the General Administration of Customs.
Chinese automaker BYD is building factories in Thailand and Mexico, integrating Chinese aesthetics into car design.
In the field of AI, China has made comprehensive progress, forming a thriving industrial ecosystem. The country is home to more than 400 “little giants” – small and medium-sized enterprises leading niche segments of the AI market, including innovator DeepSeek.
The dynamic growth of China’s creative IP is driven by China’s booming domestic cultural consumption and strong industrial manufacturing base. As China moves from mass production to high-tech, intelligent manufacturing, the synthesis of aesthetics and craftsmanship is helping propel the country’s manufacturing industry up the global value chain.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics of the People’s Republic of China (NBS), the average per capita expenditure on education, culture and entertainment in China was 3,189 yuan in 2024, up 9.8 percent year on year and accounting for 11.3 percent of total per capita consumption expenditure. The ever-expanding cultural services consumption market is becoming a powerful driver for the development of China’s intellectual property industry.
REVIVAL OF TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES
At a market in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province, shoppers with black bags wander from stall to stall asking, “Are there any clothes for Labubu?” The global buzz around the doll has opened up business opportunities for China’s “global supermarket.”
Zhu Hui’s shop not only sells shirts, pants, and skirts for Labubu, but also accessories like glasses and hats. “Our clothes are 7-15 yuan each, and accessories are 1-2 yuan,” she said.
Zhu Hui’s shop opened just half a month ago, but the number of orders is growing rapidly. “At first, we received orders for tens or hundreds of pieces a day, but now we have more than 10,000 pieces.” Her factory has about 50 workers, all of whom have recently had to work overtime.
Inspired by Labubu, other toy manufacturers are also looking to make their products more appealing.
Sun Lijuan is the manager of Yiwu Hongsheng Toy Factory, which exports dolls to more than 80 countries and regions in South America, the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe and Africa.
“Our dolls can talk, sing and tell stories,” she said. They are now implementing AI technologies to create products that meet different consumer needs.
According to Sun Lijuan, in recent years they have seen the development of new technologies, which have strengthened their business and helped them avoid homogeneous competition. Their factory is 13 years old, but its turnover has been growing steadily in recent years.
“The main potential of the globalization of IP in the future lies in the continuous development of content and its deep integration with technology,” said Wang Ruotong. “With the maturation of technologies such as AI and virtual reality, IP display will move toward immersive and interactive experiences.”
“China has a strong manufacturing base,” she continued. “So the current popularity of Labubu has opened up a huge opportunity for the industry. I’m sure there will be many more Labubu in the future.” -0-
