From simple basic designs like bunnies and bears, to more unique designs like moons and golfballs, Jellycats have gained attention for their unique, high-quality products. The hype for this company has accelerated so much recently that they opened a pop-up at The Grove a couple of weeks ago, which is open until the end of the year.
Jellycat is a British stuffed animal company that was founded in 1999 in London, by brothers Thomas and William Gatacre. The brothers goal was to make soft toys that were luxurious and quirky. The name “Jellycat” actually came from Thomas Gatacre’s son, when he combined the words “jelly” and “cat,” and the brothers thought it was a catchy name, perfect for their company.
The original designs were basic animals like bunnies, puppies, elephants, and bears. They used polyester plush fabric and polyester fiber fill to make the plushies soft and luxurious.
By the 2010s, the brothers began making the designs more unique and really achieving that “quirky” look. They launched sea creatures, mushrooms, food with faces, etc. The brand was still mainly based in Europe and sold at gift shops, and was not super popular worldwide. They were mostly bought as baby gifts, nursery decorations, and comfort for kids. The branding had softer colors, minimal shapes, and a comforting look. People loved jellycats because they were higher-quality stuffed animals, not like the usual cheap ones.
By 2020, Tiktok had made Jellycats extremely popular. People used their platforms to show their collections, unboxings, and hauls. Once people were introduced to the charm of Jellycats, they fell in love. The silly, cute faces and designs were irresistible. The plushies also gave comfort during the pandemic in 2020. Jellycats quickly became a trend and gained lots of attention. Now, they weren’t just for babies and kids, teens and adults started obsessing over them too.
A freshman at Calabasas High School, Emma Kaplan said, “I have a few jellycats and I think they’re an amazing gift. I think everyone should have one because they are so cute and amazing.”
Jellycats can be a thoughtful gift because there are so many different types that can go along with people’s interest. They have differently themed jellycats for a wide variety of interests.
A sophomore at Calabasas High School, Megan Knudsen has received lots of Jellycats as gifts.
“I love Jellycats, they are very cute. My boyfriend has given me a lot of them, and I also really like the Jellycat key chains,” said Knudsen.
Jellycats are on the more expensive side for being a stuffed animal. The average price range for them is $25-$50, which is something people take into account before purchasing them.
Sasha Geller, a sophomore at Calabasas High School, has quite a collection of Jellycats.
“I love jellycats, I have 7 of them. I think they’re very high-quality and they last a very long time. I think they could be a little cheaper, but they are a more superior stuffed animal,” said Geller.
On November 11th 2025, Jellycats opened up a pop up store at The Grove in LA, that runs until December 31st 2025. It is a limited-time store set up for the holiday season. There are limited edition plushies including Franilla Luxe Bashful Bunny and Amueseables Molasi Cookie. It is in the glass box at The Grove and decorated with wintery, cozy, snow-dusted decorations. There are reservations to get into the event, since it is super popular and often crowded. Every Thursday at 8:00am PST reservation slots are released so people can book to go for the next week. There are walk-ins as well, but it may be a long wait.
Social media helped the brand take off and become successful. From a small business solely based in Europe, Jellycats have expanded worldwide and become extremely popular.
