Throughout Asia-Pacific, there’s nothing that currently excites its citizens quite like the art toy craze. These adorable and often pricey collectibles don’t just channel creativity; they also vacuum substantial sums of money as an industry.

The global designer toy market has grown by nearly $3.87 billion from 2020 to 2024, with a significant chunk of that growth coming from the Asia-Pacific region. We're talking about vinyl figures, limited editions, and collaborations that sell out in minutes, sometimes even seconds.

As a social impact agency with our fingertips skin-to-skin on the pulse of the pop culture that excites Asia-Pacific, we sometimes wonder what would happen if our region invested the same amount of money, effort, and energy into creating real social change that moves societies forward.

Because while the masses run home, unbox, and shelf their latest shiny collectible, the world outside is falling apart. It’s like watching someone obsess over rearranging their toy shelf while the house is on fire.

In Southeast Asia alone, over 70 million people still lack access to basic clean water and sanitation. The Asia-Pacific region also accounts for more than 60% of the world’s undernourished population. If we juxtapose that with the booming art toy industry, where collectors don’t bat an eye at dropping hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a single figure—are we really doing our best here?

As much as we are all for the creativity and artistry that go into producing art toys, when we see collectors line up around the block, frantically refreshing their browsers for a chance to snag the latest “must-have” toy, we can’t help but question if we are all missing the point.

Somehow, we’ve all decided to willingly live in a dollhouse, blissfully ignorant of the people and the hardships outside. 

Toys over change? 
We’re over it.

We spotted a missed opportunity here: this trend has the potential to drive social change. Popular culture has mobilized movements time and time again throughout history, from the 70s punk scene that voiced rebellion and social justice to street art that often carries powerful political messages. Why can’t toys do the same? If anything, they should do an even better job due to their accessibility.

Imagine if every limited-edition release came with a campaign to raise awareness about climate change, or if a portion of every sale went to support underfunded education systems in the region. Yet, we are letting this golden opportunity slip through our fingers.

The artists and collectors of the Asia-Pacific region have the power to do something significant, something that transcends mere consumerism. But instead, they’re doubling down on a trend that, while cute and collectible, feels like a distraction from the issues that truly matter.

Asia-Pacific has always been a region of innovation and resilience. It’s known for taking challenges head-on, not for turning a blind eye to them. So why settle for a trend that, while aesthetically pleasing, lacks the substance our society desperately needs?

Let’s not waste this creative energy on something that, in the grand scheme of things, is just more plastic cluttering our lives. It’s time for a reality check. After all, what’s the point of a beautiful collection if the world outside is falling apart?