Not every gift needs to be practical. Some gifts work precisely because they are not — because they give someone permission to own something purely for the joy of it. Labubu V3 is that kind of gift.
THE MONSTERS Labubu Big Into Energy Series V3 is the latest iteration of POP MART's most recognizable vinyl plush doll. At 17cm, it fits in a hand, on a desk, clipped to a bag, or lined up on a shelf alongside everything else someone already loves. Each of the six regular variants carries a name — Love, Happiness, Loyalty, Serenity, Hope, Luck — which makes the act of choosing one feel like it means something. And it does. That is what makes it work as a gift.
Why Labubu V3
The Big Into Energy series began as a set of bag charms. V3 is the third and most refined version of the doll format: a vinyl face with hand-painted details and sparkle-glint eyes, set into a full-body long-pile plush suit. The plush is denser and softer than earlier versions, and the eye treatment on each variant is specific — Love has deep red irises with a glossy warmth; Hope has a cool sky-blue with a faint shimmer that shifts in changing light; Serenity carries a soft lavender with an almost pearlescent quality.
Each variant is sold individually at a confirmed price, so you can choose the color that means something to the person you are giving it to. That intentionality — the fact that you picked this one, not a random pull — is part of the gift.
There is also a secret variant: a grey wolf-suit Labubu with rainbow gradient eyes, available at a 1/72 ratio from blind box pulls. If you are gifting to a serious collector, a confirmed secret is the higher-stakes option.
The Case for Adding an Outfit
Labubu V3 arrives in its plush suit. That is already a complete object. But one of the things that makes this doll different from a standard collectible figure is that it is designed to be dressed — the plush body is soft and poseable enough to fit into third-party outfits made for 17cm dolls, and the results are significant. An outfit changes the character entirely. The same face, the same grin, the same ears — but suddenly it is a pirate captain, or a wizarding student, or a streetwear kid with headphones and a "HAPPYDAY" hoodie.
For a gift, this is useful. It means the base doll plus one outfit becomes a curated set — something assembled specifically for the person receiving it — rather than just an item in a box.
Outfit Pairings Worth Considering
For the streetwear enthusiast
The Urban Beats Streetwear Edition (OOTD Set #14) pairs Labubu V3 Hope with a grey knit beanie stamped "LABUBU," white over-ear headphones, a "HAPPYDAY" graphic hoodie, corduroy pants, and white sneakers. The denim blue tones of Hope's plush suit read through the outfit at the collar and cuffs. It photographs well on a desk or shelf, and the headphone detail is the kind of thing people stop to ask about.
For the fashion-forward collector
The Funny Fish Set (OOTD Set #13) pairs Labubu V3 Hope with a 5-piece denim overalls set: a teal fuzzy hoodie jacket, patch-covered denim dungarees with an Adidas-style logo, a miniature crossbody bag, a beaded necklace with a star charm, and white sneakers. It is the most editorial-looking combination in the lineup — the kind of outfit that makes the doll look like it belongs in a lookbook rather than on a shelf.
For the theatrical gift
The Golden Age Pirate Captain Edition (OOTD Set #23) is the most elaborate outfit in the store: a hand-knitted tri-corner pirate hat with a skull-and-crossbones brooch and gold-trim braid, a brown yarn wig with braided dreadlocks strung with seed beads, a crocheted ivory vest, a black coat with gold-chain accents, a leather belt with miniature key props, and brown boots. Labubu's vinyl face — still grinning, still exactly itself — peers out from under the hat with one eye covered by a small black patch. It is a complete costume, and it is the kind of gift that stops a conversation when someone opens it.
For the magic-lover
The Green Wizarding Apprentice Edition (OOTD Set #33) dresses Labubu V3 Serenity in a black academic robe, a green-and-white striped knit scarf, round wire-frame spectacles, and black leather shoes. The green tones of the costume align almost exactly with Serenity's mint-green plush fur, so the outfit feels designed for that specific variant. It is one of the most precise character-to-costume matches in the collection.
How to Choose
| Recipient vibe | V3 variant to pick | Outfit pairing | Total approx. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streetwear / music | Hope (blue) | Urban Beats Streetwear Set #14 | ~\$95 |
| Cozy / soft aesthetic | Happiness (pink) or Loyalty (mint) | Brown Bear Plush Outfit | ~\$72 |
| Playful / funny | Any | Bee Jumpsuit | ~\$52 |
| Fashion-forward | Hope (blue) | Funny Fish Denim Set #13 | ~\$99 |
| Dramatic / collector | Hope (blue) | Pirate Captain Set #23 | ~\$105 |
| Academic / whimsical | Serenity (mint-green) | Wizarding Apprentice Set #33 | ~\$96 |
The doll alone starts at \$31. Outfits range from \$20 to \$75 depending on complexity. Pre-curated OOTD sets (doll + outfit bundled) run \$48–\$105 and are the simplest option if you want the decision made for you.
Where to Find Them
The full V3 lineup — individual variants, standalone outfits, and pre-curated OOTD sets — is available at Kikibuddies. For POP MART's official retail listings, visit POPMART.com.
For more information, do visit POPMART.com.
