If you’re chronically online like us, then you’ve likely heard about Jellycat. These viral, ultra-plush stuffed toys have been around since 1999, but it wasn’t until recently — when they won over the hearts of social media users — that their popularity really started to skyrocket.
From TikTok influencers hunting for rare Jellycat merchandise (in videos that have amassed millions of views) to dedicated fans visiting the “Jellycat Diner” at FAO Schwarz in New York City, these high-quality toys seem to be everywhere you look (or, should we say, scroll).
And surprisingly, the primary purchasers of these toys aren’t who you might expect. Now more than ever, full-grown adults are buying these super-soft plushes and spending a significant portion of their paychecks on them, too. So why are they so popular with the millennials, Gen Z’ers, and D.I.N.K.s (dual income, no kids) of the world? The answer could lie in their stress-relieving properties.
Jellycat are available in two different categories: animals and amuseables. The animal line features nostalgic plush creatures, including dogs, dinosaurs, and dragons. The amuseable collection, on the other hand, consists of food and other inanimate objects, like avocados and a coffee cup. While some Jellycat are more coveted than others — The Bashful Beige Bunny, for instance, is a top-seller — they all have one thing in common: the potential to help you relax.
Not only are these toys extremely luxurious and what many deem “huggable,” but they also evoke a sense of comfort, thanks to their gentle texture and thoughtful design. I would argue that they’re akin to a “fidget toy” — a small object that can help distract you when feelings of anxiety or stress arise. So, while you may not be sitting there and “playing” with your Jellycat in the same way you did with your Barbie Dolls decades ago, the child-like feeling that can come from owning a product like this is actually beneficial to your mental health.
“Play can be an important source of both relaxation and stimulation for adults. Research shows that play relieves stress, fuels creativity, imagination, and problem-solving abilities, and facilitates happiness and well-being,” a recent study in Psychology Today stated. “Play is also a gateway to empathy, communication, and relationships. It reinforces the ties that bind us together and helps to create a sense of community.”
But besides the positive mental effects that can come from this purchase, another reason why adults are gravitating more towards these British-made toys versus kids: the grown-up price tag. Jellycat can retail anywhere between $10 for the mini keychain version and can go all the way up to $1000 for the extra-large sizes (yeah, you read that right). To help you spend your hard-earned cash wisely, we rounded up some of our favorite Jellycat that are actually worth the money. Shop them on sites like The Paper Store and Amazon below.
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