In college, where many people are away from home for the first time, many students like to bring comfort items from home to remember. Many Stags have some form of stuffed animal, whether it’s from their childhood, a weighted stuffed animal, a Jellycat, or a random stuffed animal. Stuffed animals can bring a smile or joy to almost anyone’s day.
I interviewed some fellow Stags about their stuffed animals, to get the inside scoop. Sophomore Gina Hughes’s favorite stuffed animal is a whale stuffed animal that she got when she was younger. It was gifted by her parents when she babysat her younger brother for the very first time. Hughes is also a proud Jellycat owner of one bunny, which her friend and Sophomore Meghan Kearns got for her birthday. Hughes notes that she likes her stuffed animals because she likes “having them there when I need them.”
When asked, Hughes’s friend Kearns noted that her favorite stuffed animal is from Build-a-Bear. It is a longhorn cow whose name is Ron. Kearns said that he is her favorite because she made him alongside her best friend. She also notes that she got interested in Jellycats through TikTok, explaining, “The first Jellycat I saw was the peanut one, and I was instantly obsessed with how adorable they are.”
Her favorite part of having stuffed animals is that they remind her of childhood and simpler times, and how no matter how old they are, they will always serve as a nostalgic reminder for her.
As for me personally, I am a huge stuffed animal girlie! Personally, I could not pick a singular favorite stuffed animal, but I love all of my Jellycats, my sushi Squishmallow and my moose from when I went to Vermont!
Since my senior year of high school, the Jellycat craze has been taking my social media by storm. For those that don’t know what Jellycats are, they are a British based stuffed animal brand that are known for being on the pricier end. At first, I wasn’t really keen on the trend, but it wasn’t until some of my friends told me I should get one that I really looked into it.
Ironically, I joined the trend late and received my first ever Jellycat the spring semester of my first year. I got one as a gift from my Mom for my birthday. She got me the Bashful Orlando Luxe Puppy. I went to London later last year and I got myself two more. I got the Bartholomew Bear, a London exclusive Jellycat, and Charlie Chip from the Fish and Chips experience in Selfridges, London.
Recently, I went into town here in Fairfield and checked out the store, Beehive. They had a good selection of Jellycats, ranging from the famous Bashful bunnies, to the Fuzzwuddles, such as the Elephant and the Kitten. I ended up getting the Blossom Beige Bunny “Patel”, which cost $33, but plus tax, it was $35.
Here at Fairfield, Jellycats have served as prizes at Fairfield@Night events, raffle events for Residence Life as well as a Spelling Bee for Jogues Hall.
In addition to Jellycats, Fairfield@Night hosts a very popular event every year known as “Stuff-a-Stag” which is kind of like Build a Bear. This event often has people out of the door and it’s one of the most popular events that Fairfield@Night has to offer! It happens every December, so be on the lookout!
Additionally, some other well known stuffed animals that have been trending on social media include the weighted stuffed animals from Target, the Squishmallows as well as Warmies, which is a brand of stuffed animals that are not only weighted, but also heatable and are able to be thrown in the freezer. Nostalgically speaking, remember the Beanie Babies and the Beanie Boos? Sometimes, I feel like they were the Jellycats of our childhood.
Whether you are a stuffed animal enthusiast or have one from your childhood or you are a new stuffed animal person, they are something that can brighten up just about anyone. And nope, they are not just for kids, but for people of all ages!