If you need any further proof, just take a look at Jellycat‘s ultra-popular “Fish and Chips” pop-up at Selfridges that had people queuing around the block to see some stuffed culinary characters being served on a “fryer.” Sure, there were your expected younger clientele clutching their parent’s hands, but also plenty of full-grown adults just enjoying the sight of a soft toy getting wrapped like a burrito.
It’s no secret that plush toys, once something we needed to stash away as a sign of our “adulthood,” are now being appreciated in a big way, reflected in the astronomical price tags attached to mint condition Beanie Babies and Jellycats on eBay. A rare Princess the Diana Beanie Baby from 1997 is currently available for purchase on eBay for a casual £723,000 (yes, you read that right).
Courtesy of Selfridges/Tim Charles
While Coach’s bunny slippers are thankfully nowhere near that price point, their appearance speaks to a growing number of brands tapping into our nostalgia for a sense of softness found in our childhood pastimes. There’s something about these toys that speak to—and maybe soothe—our inner child, that reminds us of the carefree innocence of being a toddler, and that he or she is still very much is still a part of us. And let’s be honest, it just offers us a little hit of dopamine.
With London and Paris Fashion Weeks coming up, we wouldn’t be surprised to see more cameos by some fluffy faces, but in the meantime, we’ll be digging out our forgotten friends for a little much-needed cuddle.