Confessions of a Toy Collector: The Joys of Labubu and Beyond

(SPOT.ph) “It must be more than a thousand,” confesses Hannah Elisha Giron-Sy when asked about her extensive stash of Labubu, Funko Pops, and art toys of the collectible kind. “More than two thousand, I think.”

It’s clear that Hannah’s love for toys extends to all facets of her life. The home she shares with husband —and fellow collector—Franz Sy boasts an impressive display of toys kept inside custom-made glass cabinets. During our interview, some Funko Pops sit within her reach, while hanging from her bag are a couple of Labubu dolls dressed in custom-made crochet outfits.

Even Hannah’s workplace is a testament to her life-long hobby of toy-collecting: she works at Toki Asia, the first collectible-focused e-commerce platform in the Philippines. It was the job that, in fact, found her because of her deep involvement in the world of collectibles.

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The making of a collector

Hannah has loved toys all her life but says her disciplinarian mother instilled in her an important reminder: Only purchase collectibles once she’s earning her own money. And so as soon as she started working, Hannah began building a collection—first with Gundam, then Funko Pops, before moving on to art toys and Labubu dolls. 

As a child, she was also discouraged from playing with the toys that were “meant to be on display.” This shaped the kind of collector she is now: When she finally had the means to buy her own toys, Hannah embraced the opportunity to fully experience them. “I want to open them, I want to look at them, I want to appreciate them. Some people don’t open the boxes of Funko Pops, because it lessens the value. I like to experience the toys I’m buying.”

Her passion for toys informed her entire career path and greatly impacted her personal life. For eight years, she nurtured young minds as a special education teacher, using miniature toys to connect with her students. And not only did her genuine love for toys land her a dream job at Toki Asia, it was because of her hobby that she met her husband, a fellow collector.

"It gives me joy," Hannah says, explaining her passion for collectibles. "It's mainly the experience and the joy of connecting with people that makes me love collecting."

The thrill of the hunt for Labubu dolls

“I’ve been collecting Pop Mart since 2019, when it wasn’t that popular,” says Hannah. At the time, Pop Mart was already famous in other countries but it was still quite niche in the Philippines. It’s only in the past few months that there was a surge in the popularity of Labubu, a quirky character created by Kasing Lung as part of The Monsters.

The figure has clearly captured the hearts of celebrities and collectors worldwide. From Blackpink’s Lisa catapulting the little doll into the international spotlight to local stars like Heart Evangelista and Marian Rivera embracing the trend, everyone it seems wants to get their hands on these little toys.

According to Hannah, their small group of Pop Mart collectors suddenly ballooned to having over 8,000 members since the Labubu craze erupted.

The blind box method of Pop Mart appealed endlessly to Hannah. As someone who’s a self-described “experiential collector,” she savors the excitement of opening the box without knowing what’s inside. “You know the feeling of scratching an itch? That’s it.”

But that’s exactly the challenge, too. Because Labubu dolls are available via blind boxes, you never know what you’re going to get. Duplicates are bound to happen, right? Here’s a pro tip from Hannah: If you buy a sealed case of six, you’ll get six blind boxes with no duplicates—guaranteed. If you’re lucky, you’ll even open one with a “chase” item inside. A highly coveted and extremely rare figure in a series, these chase items typically come only in one out of every 144 boxes.

Collector math

Labubu is only one part of Hannah’s ever-growing collection of art toys, which are created by artists or designers, and usually come in very limited quantities. Needless to say, they can be extremely pricey. Luckily, she has become well-versed in collector math.

“If there’s girl math, there’s collector math, too,” Hannah says, chuckling. After all, part of being a collector is navigating the delicate balance between desire and the need to budget. Before swiping the credit card, she meticulously researches prices, compares options, and hunts down the best deals. “Pag wala talaga and I can’t buy it anywhere else, I close my eyes and swipe,” she admits.

This so-called collector math also involves a dash of future-proofing. Hannah mentions sometimes buying multiples of certain items knowing she can resell them later at a hefty profit. “A lot of collectors resell so they can fund their collectibles. It is an expensive hobby. It’s not for the faint-hearted.”

Back when she was a teacher, Hannah would stay until 7:00 p.m. to tutor different kids, to earn enough to fund her hobby.

Another challenge for aspiring collectors: the proliferation of fakes. Hannah stresses the importance of buying collectible toys from reputable sources to avoid getting scammed. It’s true that online marketplaces offer potentially cheaper options, but there's also a higher risk of ending up with fakes. So look to established retailers like Fullybooked and Filbar’s, or platforms like Toki Asia, which verifies each merchant. Pop Mart also has an official store on Shopee that regularly does scheduled drops of highly anticipated boxes.

But even with reputable sources, checking for authenticity upon receiving the toy remains important. For Labubu, Hannah recommends checking the barcode and UV markings. Sometimes, even the toy features make it obvious, like wider-than-usual eyes and an incorrect number of serrated teeth. “[The fakes are] so ugly when you see the original,” she says. You’ll see it.”

Keep your spending in check

When asked to share her golden tips for novice collectors, Hannah first dishes out an advice: Know your limits. It’s important to keep your spending in check; toy collecting is a hobby that can get super expensive, super fast. Additionally, buy toys you genuinely love, not just for reselling. Although there’s nothing wrong with making money through reselling collectibles, buying something purely with the intention to resell might have you ending up getting stuck with something you don’t even want.

Finally, the best advice: Grow your community. Join online groups or forums to connect with fellow collectors, and you'll be surprised who you might meet—doctors, VPs, celebrities, people from different walks of life who share the same passion. “When you share the same interest and share the love for one collectible, you feel like pantay kayong lahat. You feel like you’re really equal,” says Hannah. For Hannah, collecting isn’t just about acquiring stuff but also about making connections along the way.  

One such connection she made that’s become one of the most memorable highlights of her journey? Meeting filmmaker, animator, and voice actor Chris Sanders at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Sanders is behind one of Hannah’s favorite characters: Stitch from Lilo and Stitch (which Sanders co-wrote, as well!). “When I saw him, I was so happy. It’s my first time seeing a foreign artist,” she says. “It was a really nice experience, one of the happiest!” 

Also read: POP MART to Open First Pop-Up Store in the Philippines