Jellycats have become the latest plush phenomenon, captivating the world with its soft, comforting essence. The London based brand caters to people of all age groups, whether they’re starting out in Kindergarten, or strutting down the graduation stage. High School students at Pembroke Pines Charter (PPCHS) have embraced the new fluffy trend, starting collections of their own.
When Jellycats were first released back in 1999, the original creators, Thomas and William Gatacre, felt that the toy market needed an immediate “refresh.” Embodying their vision, the two brothers developed these fluffy friends, intending to bring an uplifting spirit back into the world of toys. William Gatacre shared the duo’s inspiration to be derived from shifting art, design, and fashion fads. Launching new jellycats every season; the two continue “evolving with the times.”
Junior Victoria Rothman proves the Brothers marketing method to be efficient as she shares, “I prefer the Jellycats that resemble animals, but I love how there’s something for everyone. I also really like how they come in fun colors and patterns!”
Recently, the brand has boomed in popularity, stemming from many social media platforms. TikTok in particular has fueled the rise in Jellycats, as creators rave about its high-quality material and adorable design. Sophomore, Alexa Hernandez comments that their quality features leads her to feel “beyond grateful to receive one as a gift! Time and time again I have them on lists; like Christmas lists, birthday gifts, and for Valentine’s Day.”
Influencers have even ventured into the big city of New York to participate in the Jellycat experience at F.A.O Schwarz, where you can dine in and pick a breakfast food of your choice for the servers to work up! Through the advertisement from popular creators, society has grown obsessed with finding Jellycats wherever they are nearest available.
Since there are no physical Jellycat establishments nearby, the company strategically encourages its clients to make impulsive purchases, as they provide temporary availability on specific Jellycat styles online and in select stores. This adds sentimental value to the limited-time products, or maybe it just promotes further consumerism.
Junior Paige Mccarthy shared her thoughts saying, “If Jellycats weren’t trending on TikTok I don’t think I would even have one.” She continued to explain that despite the range in sizes, even the smallest Jellycats are considerably expensive. “There are millions of other stuffed animals that people can buy, it just depends on what’s popular at the moment.”
The Jellycat trend is often compared to the craze of Beanie Babies from the 1990’s and the squishmallow mania in 2020, yet both trends have died down. However the Jellycats’ old fashioned, antique look leads Pines Charter students to believe that they will remain popular. Junior Gabriella Perez shared, “I think things will calm down, but they will still be popular because they have that traditional look while squishmallows have a more modern appeal.”
Providing a sense of comfort, PPCHS students cherish the nostalgia of Jellycats, creating a reminiscent spark from their childhood.
