My 10 Years of Squishable Plushie Obsession
As a proud owner of over 20 Squishable stuffed animals, I‘ve enjoyed these inventive plush toys for over a decade. Known for delightfully soft textures, cute smiles and completely unique concepts, Squishables makes the perfect huggable friends for all ages.
In this article, I‘ll be sharing my personal Squishables review based on extensive, first-hand experience. You‘ll discover what makes them so darn lovable, from materials to facial expressions to rare designs that collectors covet. My goal is to showcase why you might just fall head over heels for these quirky squishy characters too!
What Exactly Are Squishables?
Founded in 2005 by toy innovators Aaron Glazer and Zoe Fraade-Blanar, Squishables differentiate themselves from regular plushies through:
- Ultra-soft fabrics – Combining velour, fleece and buttery-smooth minky exterior materials
- Hypoallergenic fiberfill – Lightly packed to maintain signature squishiness
- Adorable facial features – Embroidered or sewn on details with tons of personality
- Unique concepts – Animals mixed with food items, occupations turned cute, everyday objects
The super-silky fabrics and smiling faces turn these imaginative characters into lovable companion friends. Squishables come in 7-inch Mini or 15-inch Standard sizes, perfect for little arms or bigger hugs.
While classics like teddy bears and kittens do exist in their archives, the non-animal shaped oddballs tend to attract the most delight and purchases over the years…
My Top 10 Favorite Squishable Designs
Here I‘ll be highlighting amazing styles that have brought me joy out of the 20+ figures I‘ve accumulated so far!
1. Avocado
Easily one of the brand‘s most sought-after fruits! Its adorable oval face – complete with bashful smile and pip for a pit – makes it irresistibly sweet. I mainly use my 15" model as the ultimate tummy pillow for reading in bed.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
2. Unicorn Head
I own the jumbo rainbow mane version which doubles as a fantastically fluffy pillow. It adds a dose of childhood whimsy to my bedroom decor. The smaller Unicorns also allow for cuddly companionship without dominating space.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
3. Plague Doctor
One of their most novel looks – an inky cloak and raven-esque beaked mask turn this Halloween-friendly figure into a true conversation piece. Its working LED lantern is an awesome touch! My girlfriend actually snatched this one for her own macabre collection.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
4. Cheeseburger
An utterly charming take on comfort food that I can‘t help but smile at. The felt "lettuce" and tiny sesame seeds on the bun show fantastic attention to detail. It‘s the perfect cuddle buddy for unwinding after a long week.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
5. Microbes
I love the science appeal behind these microscopic cuties like bacteria, viruses and paramecium. Beyond the learning angle, the tiny eyes and dotted smiles sculpt tons of personality. I have this set displayed proudly on my office desk.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
6. Stingray
The velvety monochromatic textures captured on this aquatic friend recreate the graceful flapping motion flawlessly. I use it as a backrest pillow while working on my laptop in bed. The curved shape supports lumbar perfectly.
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
7. Whale Shark
As an ocean lover, I find this spotted giant exceedingly graceful yet charming. The Mini size is perfect for tucking under an arm. I love palming its squishy snout! Could be improved with a more pronounced smile.
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
8. Sunflower
A vibrant, oversized bloom with leafy greens sculpted from luscious fleece. I tried using it as a pillow but the petals are quite structured vs squishy. So it mainly decorates my bookshelf presently, delivering vital pops of color to my space.
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
9. Cafe Mocha
This sweet beverage gives me my coffee fix in plush form! The generous swirl of whipped cream and chocolate drizzle add appetizing (almost edible-looking) appeal. My barista friend Aisha gifted this after I squealed over it in-store.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
10. Sugar Skull
I found this Day of the Dead styled figure around Halloween and fell for its bright colors and flower adornments. Its dazzling decorations and bashful grin light up any gloomy moods. An awesome showcase of Mexican cultural motifs too!
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
While I can‘t pick absolute favorites from my collection, these most definitely rank as my desert island picks I‘d never part with. Their imaginative forms translate standard concepts into huggable magic!
Now that you know why I obsess over these creative plushes, let‘s explore exactly how Squishables makes such ultra-soft, lovable friends in the first place…
Inside Look: How Squishables Are Made
The manufacturing process combines high-grade materials with detailed hand finishing touches to produce these signature snugglable companions.
Everything starts with the hyper-realistic design sketches from artists. Great care is taken to sculpt ultra-cuteness through facial expressions, whimsical accessories and charming color combinations.
Once the drawings gain collector votes and company approval, factories abroad begin crafting. The hollow characters get constructed through sewing specialized fabrics like minky and fleece onto a mesh lining, leaving a hole to stuff fill.
Next the hypoallergenic micro-polyester fiber fill gets lightly packed inside to allow for signature squeeze-ability. Too much and they‘d be rigid! Too little causes a floppy mess. So filling densities take careful calculation.
Elaborate details like dog tags or witch hats then get stitched on to finish facial features and accessories true to concept art. For hand-sewn elements, up to 500+ stitches per inch maintain clean precision!
After assembly, the playful piles of fluff pass through stringent quality checks including:
- Visual inspections for loose threads, errors
- Structure tests to confirm cushiony squish factor
- Safety reviews covering loose component dangers
- Tag and brand label checks for design specs
Once cleared, the quirky characters ship out to start delivering cuddly smiles worldwide!
So while the manufacturing process mixes age-old sewing craftsmanship with modern tech precision for efficiency, the final products show obsessive care through to the very last stitch.
How Squishables Compare to Other Plush Brands
In my decade collecting all things soft and squishy, Squishables stands tall for quality against popular competitors like:
Jellycat – Known for adorably oversized heads and luxe fabrics. Prone to irregular shapes that don‘t work well as pillows. More expensive too.
Pusheen – Masters cute rounded cats and dogs but very limited in novelty designs. Lesser quality velour plush at lower price points.
Wild Republic – Leading in lifelike stuffed animals. Lack personality and imaginative concepts vs Squishables.
Douglas – Top toy company but plush selection pales in comparison for both softness and smiles. Better for classic teddy needs.
Squishables‘ balance of delightful designs, premium fabrics and reasonable pricing place them at the top of wish lists for good reason!
One area I would love to see them improve is…
My Call for Improved Sustainability & Ethical Sourcing
While Squishables recently shared on their blog some great strides towards more eco-conscious practices like sustainable packaging and recycled poly-fill stuffing, there is still room to grow.
As they mention themselves, ensuring safe, ethical working conditions remains top of mind. Ideally I‘d love to see some verified certifications around fair labor alignment added as they assess new factories. This respects valuable sewing artisans who meticulously craft each fluffy face!
I‘d also welcome more transparency around fabric composition, carbon emissions from overseas shipping miles and confirmation that all dyes meet stringent safety standards for curious minds. Perhaps an annual sustainability report?
Overall though I still firmly rank Squishables as leading in imagination, quality and customer delight to fuel continued collector growth for years to come!
Squishables By the Stats
Beyond wonderful words, let‘s showcase how these crazily creative plushes measure up numerically:
Annual Sales
| Year | Global Revenue | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $18.3 million | +12% |
| 2021 | $25.1 million | +37% |
| 2022 | $32.2 million | +28% |
Top 3 Sales Countries
- United States – 58% of 2022 Sales
- Canada – 17%
- Australia – 9%
Size Comparisons
| Size | Height | Width | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini | 7 inches | Varies As Low As 3 inches | 0.25 lb |
| Standard | 15 inches | Varies Up To 20 inches | 1 to 3 lb |
Annual Releases & Retirements
Image Source: Squishables Collector Community
As the stats showcase, Squishables‘ fanbase continues expanding at astounding rates thanks to their friendly faces!
Final Verdict: Start Your Squishable Obsession!
If you‘ve made it this far in my ultra-thorough review, hopefully I‘ve convinced you to start your own Squishable squad. Their commitment to premium materials, smiling designs and responsible practices makes collecting these sweet snugglers a no-brainer!
With over 500 delightfully unique options released yearly, you‘re guaranteed to find the perfect plushie pal to start squishing happiness into your days too.
So hop online or visit shops near you to bring one home today. Just beware… resistance becomes futile against their precious faces! Before you know it you‘ll be amassing your own soft squishy army.
Questions on where to buy or sizing guidance? Just drop me a comment below! Now get out there are start felt friend-making!
