Collectables like Labubu either evoke subliminal emotions or serve as fashion statements. It is for this reason that some collectables sell extraordinarily well. They do not connect with the rational side of the mind, and so there is no logic-based filter to the consumers' purchase decisions. As such, Apple's new iPhone Pocket has all the hallmarks of becoming the new Labubu.
Labubu, you say?
Labubu is a female-gendered, collectible stuffed toy, which was originally conceived by the artist Kasing Lung in his "The Monsters" series, and manufactured by the company Pop Mart.
Labubu became a sensation after BLACKPINK's Lisa professed her love for the collectible stuffed toy, with demand exploding almost overnight. In fact, Pop Mart's "The Monsters" series of collectables has become its most lucrative franchise, generating nearly half a billion dollars in sales last year alone.
ISSEY MIYAKI's $230 Apple iPhone Pocket
ISSEY MIYAKE's iPhone Pocket is the latest accessory from Apple. Think of it as a fabric-based satchel of sorts for your iPhone.
The iPhone Pocket has understandably proved to be quite divisive, with some panning Apple for launching a $230 glorified sock, while others flocking to the Apple Store to get their hands on the newest Apple accessory.
So, why do I say that the iPhone Pocket might become the new Labubu? Well, just like the popular stuffed toy, Apple's iPhone Pocket is intended to serve as a fashion statement, a proclamation of sorts that you belong to the cool, trendy Gen-Z clique.
Those buying the iPhone Pocket are not doing so because the accessory is functional, or because its fabric feels soft to the touch. Instead, they are doing so because of the supposed "cool factor." In this way, the iPhone Pocket and Labubu are quite similar, for the underlying buying decisions for both are not based on economics or any rational thought. Rather, both evoke emotional undertones, which are often much more powerful drivers of impulsive buying.
All that Apple's iPhone Pocket needs now to become a sensation is an endorsement from an A-list celebrity. Taylor Swift, perhaps? After all, stranger things have happened before.
About the author: Writing is my one incontrovertible passion. Over the past six years, he has authored over 2,200 distinct articles on financial and tech-related topics, spanning nearly 1 million words. And he has been a member of Wcctech mobile team since 2025. As an alumnus of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce Program, I bring nuance, in-depth knowledge, and a unique perspective to every topic that I cover. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling the world, exploring hidden confectionaries and restaurants as an aspiring food connoisseur.
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