New York is gross \u2014 and we love it. <\/p>\n
A new pop-up is raising a big stink, celebrating the city\u2019s signature grime with a cheeky collection of rat-themed merch and chaotic charm, including a sold-out Ratbubu \u2014 a tattooed and pierced Labubu dressed like a rodent.<\/p>\n
The WELOVENYC \u201cComeback Collection\u201d \u2014 featuring everything from creepy Ratbubu plushies to trash-bag earbud covers ($25), \u201cLegal Cocaine\u201d coffee mugs ($35) and \u201cS\u2013t Shield\u201d sneaker guards ($12) \u2014 has true New Yorkers embracing the grit and grime of our beloved dirty city.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s more about what New York is really like. The funky stuff,\u201d Tanya De Poli, a co-creator of WELOVENYC collection, told The Post about the curious compilation, a collaboration between numerous New York artists, which drew a long line of locals to the dingy corner of Walker and Lafayette for its Friday night opening. <\/p>\n
The Ratbubu riffs on the mega-popular Labubu, giving it a truly NYC twist. WELOVENYC<\/p>\n
\u201cRats are a part of that, so why not play that up?\u201d<\/p>\n
Seems about right, considering the Big Apple has employed a \u201crat czar\u201d <\/a>and even features a rat whisperer who offers tours<\/a> of the city\u2019s most populous rodent hangouts. <\/p>\n Shoppers were greeted in the teeny space at 101 Lafayette St. by a back wall covered in real rat traps spray-painted with \u201cWe Heart NYC,\u201d where some of the creepy but cute $55 Ratbubus \u2014 the store\u2019s priciest item \u2014 hung.<\/p>\n The first 300 limited-edition toys sold out on opening night, sending desperate fans back to the store Saturday morning or sliding into the team\u2019s DMs begging for one.<\/p>\n \u201cThey went crazy,\u201d De Poli told The Post with a laugh as a fresh shipment arrived on Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n The WELOVENYC \u201cComeback Collection\u201d features the new creature in a setting befitting it. WELOVENYC<\/p>\n Delfina Lamino (left) and Catalina Recalde show off totes for sale at the pop-up store. Stefano Giovannini for N.Y.Post<\/p>\n Labubus \u2014 small, plush toy keychains of an elf-like monster adorned with pointed ears, a wide serrated grin, large eyes, and fuzzy costumes \u2014 have gained popularity after being sported on the designer bags of celebrities like Rihanna, Dua Lipa, BLACKPINK\u2019s Lisa, David Beckham, Emma Roberts, Hillary Duff, Kim Kardashian and countless others. <\/p>\n Some have sold for as high as $10,000.<\/a><\/p>\n But the new, coveted Ratbubus are much cheaper \u2014 at least for now.<\/p>\n What\u2019s more New York than a Labubu-esque creature that celebrates the city\u2019s rat population? WELOVENYC<\/p>\n Among the offerings is a black coffee mug emblazoned with the phrase \u201clegal cocaine.\u201d Stefano Giovannini for N.Y.Post<\/p>\n Fake rats appear to meander through a mini sidewalk display at the pop-up. Stefano Giovannini for N.Y.Post<\/p>\n Cheeky booties labeled \u201cS\u2013t Shield\u201d would protect pedestrians\u2019 shoes from omnipresent sidewalk dog dung. WELOVENYC<\/p>\n Opening night also offered free, pre-designed \u201cflash\u201d tattoos by Chris Torres with any $50 purchase; the team was stunned by how many people waited patiently to have a rat permanently inked on their skin.<\/p>\n However, don\u2019t worry if you have FOMO: Ratbubus and more rat tats return Tuesday night \u2014 this time with rat-shaped latte art by Moonface. Keep in mind, though, that only 100 Ratbubus will be available, so you\u2019d better hurry.<\/p>\n Then the third and final Ratbubu drop happens Thursday, capped off with a rat costume contest so fans can twin with their new furry accessories.<\/p>\n Local artist Jay Mac created this window display, which includes a coveted Ratbubu. WELOVENYC<\/p>\n This AirPod case cover is fashioned to look like a trash bag. Stefano Giovannini for N.Y.Post<\/p>\n \u201cI knew it would be both memorable and iconic. One of my favourite aspects of this is the New York creatives involved who came together to make this happen,\u201d Rick McGuire, the founder and creator behind SubwayCreatures<\/a>, told Little Black Book<\/a>.<\/p>\n He partnered with the WELOVENYC team to curate the pop-up, which will run through Saturday, Nov. 1.<\/p>\n Among the artists popping up is Pamela Barsky, known as the \u201cOriginal New York Bag Lady\u201d for her line of scrawled-on totes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Her radical rodent bags ($35) offer phrases that include \u201cSometimes I think the rats run this city better than we do\u201d and \u201cReal New Yorkers don\u2019t scream when they see a rat.\u201d<\/p>\n A $20 pouch features a less-than-subtle message. WELOVENYC<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the new and more honest New York,\u201d WELOVENYC co-creator Checha Agost Carreno proclaimed to The Post, celebrating the authenticity of the project \u2014 which has an appreciative, clearly homegrown audience. <\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t want this collection to be for the tourists,\u201d De Poli added.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t