Marko Monroe, a Los Angeles-based stylist best known for dressing celebrities such as Lizzo, has become a sought-after creator of custom Labubu dolls after one of his designs was photographed with Lady Gaga last month, Monroe told the Daily Mail.

The designer said the Gaga doll, outfitted with a bold red cloak and a sleek black bob wig, was inspired by the singer’s concert intro — a quiet scene in which Gaga sits and writes before picking up a quill. The doll was not made at Gaga’s request but was produced for her team; Gaga was photographed with the Labubu at least twice after appearing with it in public, Monroe said, a development that he credited with dramatically increasing attention to both his work and the toys themselves.

Monroe said the surge of interest has led to a run of celebrity clients. He told the Daily Mail that his custom Labubus have landed with Lady Gaga, Blackpink’s Lisa, Mariah Carey, members of the Wednesday cast including Jenna Ortega and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Tim Burton, Bravo personalities such as Lisa Rinna and Braunwyn Windham-Burke, and the girl group KATSEYE, who received dolls at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.

Originally from Arkansas, Monroe holds a BFA in sculpture and has worked as a stylist in Los Angeles. He described the first Labubu redesign as a personal project that began after his boyfriend bought a Labubu on eBay. During a slow period in the entertainment industry, Monroe said he took the toy apart and began reworking it — first turning one into a dachshund-inspired design he carried everywhere.

"It got kind of dingy and the time period was kind of slow in the industry. I was really trying to fight depression and just the lull that happens with working in the entertainment world and I just decided to take it apart," Monroe told the Daily Mail, describing the early creative impulse behind his customizations.

Monroe said he works from his own studio and attaches a small tag to each piece identifying it as one of his designs. He noted that the tag was left on a Labubu that accompanied Lisa on stage in London, a detail he described as "precious." For Lisa’s doll, Monroe said he coordinated with the K-pop star’s stylist to match the exact fur scraps used in her costume to ensure color and texture fidelity.

The designer said he also made gothic-themed dolls for the cast of Netflix’s Wednesday, and that creating one for director Tim Burton was a personal favorite. He described another significant moment when Labubu creator Kasing Lung began following him on Instagram, an acknowledgment Monroe called "major" given his admiration for Lung’s illustration work.

Monroe sells his Labubu customs through his website, with pricing he described as ranging from about $250 for a surprise custom to $350 for an "ultimate custom." He said demand has left him "swamped" with orders but that he hopes to make dolls for two high-profile fans: Kasing Lung and Madonna. "I would love to make one for Madonna," Monroe said.

The recent visibility of the dolls reflects a broader pop-culture moment. Labubu toys, which began as limited-edition designer figures, have gained mainstream attention after being embraced by celebrities and featured in performances and public appearances. Monroe credited Blackpink’s Lisa with playing a pivotal role in that trend, saying her on-stage use of Labubu helped bring the toys to wider notice.

Monroe’s pivot from clothing and red-carpet styling to small-scale sculpture and toy customization underscores a growing intersection between fashion, fandom and collectible designer toys. He said the work has provided a creative outlet during industry slowdowns and generated unexpected professional momentum after the Gaga sighting.

All details about Monroe’s recent work and comments are based on an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail.