What bears the brunt of childhood like a teddy bear?
They are dragged through gardens, slept on every night, and, eventually, emerge from storage looking considerably worse for wear. But what if the dearly beloved teddy bear was designed to become an heirloom from the outset?
As the great wealth transfer continues, the idea of what we leave behind is changing too. Some $124trn is expected to change hands in the US by 2048, according to Cerulli Associates, prompting families to think not only about what their children will inherit, but what they can pass on while they are still here.
Hamleys has taken the heirloom idea rather literally. To mark its 266th anniversary, the London toy emporium has teamed up with Savile Row tailors Cad & The Dandy to create 10 teddy bears, each individually fitted and dressed in miniature bespoke tailoring. The collection will go on display at Hamleys’ Regent Street flagship, with some bears later auctioned for charity.
If you miss out on one of those, there are plenty of other luxury teddy bears – and a few decidedly more unusual creatures – worthy of a place in the family collection.
Luxury teddy bears to buy now
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Louis Vuitton
Teddy Bear PM Louis Vuitton’s Teddy Bear has a little fashion history behind it. The original was designed by Marc Jacobs for the house’s Spring-Summer 2005 collection, while this smaller version has been brought back in the brand’s signature Monogram velvet. Priced at almost $2,000, it’s a rather grown-up take on a childhood classic, but looks soft enough that it's still something like you’d very much like to cuddle.
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Steiff
Decorative Studio Giraffe From the company that claims to be the creator of the original teddy bear comes, well, not a bear, but a giraffe. And just like its animal counterpart, this soft toy doesn’t hold off on scale, as Steiff’s Studio Giraffe stands at an impressive 8 ft 2” tall. Made in Germany, it has a realistic coat and the brand’s familiar Button in Ear. At over $6,000, it’s certainly not your average cuddly toy – Steiff recommends it for adults – but it would make quite a memorable addition to a playroom or bedroom.
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Loro Piana
My Alpaca Stuffed Animal It could be seen as almost cannibalistic, but Loro Piana’s My Alpaca teddy bear couldn’t be made from anything but alpaca fur, with cashmere used for its feet, ears, and stomach. It’s a simple design, but the materials make it considerably softer (and more expensive) than the average stuffed animal. At $1,100, it’s perhaps one to admire rather than take on muddy walks.
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Ralph Lauren
Large Cable-Jumper Polo Bear Ralph Lauren’s Polo Bear has been around since 1991 and has become something of a brand icon. While it makes its regular appearances on everything from sweatshirts to PJs, the luxury teddy bear itself is dressed in its own Ralph uniform, in a classic preppy cable-knit jumper with the embroidered Polo Pony. But while it gives the look of a particularly well-dressed teddy, most importantly for a toy that might actually get played with, the bear is machine washable.
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Jellycat
Bashful Bunny gigantic soft toy At over 4.5 ft tall, there’s every chance that Jellycat’s gigantic Bashful Bunny will likely be taller than the recipient of this luxury teddy bear. A supersized version of the brand’s famously floppy figurehead, with the same soft fur and long ears, it’s an expensive way to fill a corner of a bedroom, but considerably more huggable than most pieces of furniture.
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Fendi Brown
FF Teddy Bear Fendi keeps things fairly classic with this teddy, finished in the house’s brown FF logo print. It’s a straightforward teddy bear, just with Fendi’s signature motif knit in place of the usual plain fur. It's one way to get a child hooked on logomania at a young age - and for those who find excessive branding slightly garish, at least its relatively small size means it won’t take over the entire room.
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Brunello Cucinelli
Kids Bea goat plush toy Not technically a teddy bear, but too cute to leave off the list. Brunello Cucinelli’s Bea is a plush goat made in Italy from faux fur, with cashmere-blend and cotton details. It’s a sweet nod to the goat that appears throughout the brand’s fashion line, and at almost $300, it’s one of the more accessible (and cute) ways to bring a little Cucinelli into the playroom.
