Gen Z adults more likely to host teddy bear's picnics than actual kids amid Jellycat and Labubu craze
'Plushie parties' are surging in popularity amongst grown-ups as Jellycat and
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Young adults are more likely to host 'plushie parties' than primary school kids
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Gen Z are even using amusable food Jellycat toys to mimic picnic items
Credit: Elly
It comes as a whopping 72% of under-28s said they wanted to throw a bash for their
In fact, over a quarter (26%) of Gen Z openly admitted to hosting their own
Meanwhile, a shameless 41% admitted the events are purely designed to be flogged on social media.
AO, which surveyed 1,000 Gen Zers and 1,000 kids aged five to ten on their love for
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37% of Gen Z adults said they prefer to bring the pricier Jellycat toys to picnics - rather than traditional teddies.
Some of the Jellycat toys are even designed to look like food - so make-believers can pretend their cuddly companions are part of the picnic itself.
The high-value toys have become the latest global obsession, with many
Most read in The Sun
Gangs of thieves have even targeted stores selling Jellycats -- in one instance looting £20,000 worth.
'B----, I'LL KILL YOU' Chilling rise of Jellycat gangs - how toys sparked crimewave where KIDS are used as cover & scammers terrorise families
Squishmallows (31%), Hello Kitty (31%) and Labubu (22%) were also popular mentions in the survey.
But while grown-ups are rediscovering their love for
AO shockingly found almost a third of children have never had a teddy bear picnic at all.
And for those who do, their menus no longer feature traditional jam sandwiches and crisps - but instead barbecued burgers, homemade pizzas, and even sushi rolls.
Some 23% of parents use air fryers to rustle up the feast, and one in five (20%) say their espresso machine is an essential part of the
Isabella Forgione, small appliance expert at AO said: "Today's families are using small appliances in all sorts of creative ways, and it's great to see that even
In honour of the generational shift, AO has unveiled a limited-edition contemporary teddy picnic set - featuring its own mascot, Bear.
Punters can win the set by heading to their Instagram page and entering the competition between before July 25.
Why are Jellycats so popular?
THEY were made for kids, but Jellycat toys remain incredibly popular with adults too. So just what is the appeal?
The London-based company started making toys in 1999, and enjoyed success from the outset thanks to the fabrics used to make their plushies suitable for children of all ages.
In recent years, they have branched out from making toys of various animals into turning virtually anything you can think of into a Jellycat.
Their vegetable offerings, which range from broccoli to avocado, can help kids eat their greens.
And even their April Fools - a toilet paper toy - was a hit with fans.
Jellycat also has numerous celebrity fans, including Princess Charlotte, with a picture released in 2015 showing the royal with her Fuddlewuddle dog.
The hefty price tag of the toys also promote the idea of luxury, and the value of the toys increases over time - meaning they are often a worthwhile investment.
Jellycat releases two new collections a year - in January and in the summer, in either June or July.
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The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
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The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
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The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
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I went on UK's only NUDE cruise where cops and docs frolic… they say it's all fun and games but there's one golden rule
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Advertisement 11 Tanis and Kevin Little were among 120 naturists who stripped off for the naked cruise along the River Exe Credit: Neil Hope 11 The trip, organised by Bare West Events, has been an annual fixture for 13 years Credit: Neil Hope 11 The Sun was invited on the trip Credit: Neil Hope As the double decker ship meandered along the River Exe estuary in Devon, dozens of smaller pleasure boats sail alongside us, their passengers cheering us on - and some of them even stripping off, too. Considering the wall-to-wall nudity involved, organisers were keen to emphasise from the outset that they are not swingers - and anybody caught trying to act inappropriately would be banned for life. Advertisement This has to be a safe environment because you can feel quite vulnerable when you haven't got your clothes on Organiser Rachel Wick Rachel Wick, 50, a local authority administrator who has organised the annual boat trip alongside her partner Nigel since 2012, said: 'It's really sad that a large percentage of the population equate being naked only with sex - it's not. 'If they came to our event, they would see it's clearly not what it's about. 'If somebody misbehaves, they will be on our banned list. Not that it's ever happened but we're always mindful that this has to be a safe environment because you can feel quite vulnerable when you haven't got your clothes on. 'One of the things I love about it is you can't tell from looking at all of us whether we are rich or poor, working or retired. When you can't judge people's status, we're all on a level. 'People think you have to be beautiful but we're all normal people of different shapes and sizes.' Advertisement Nigel said the group regularly organises nude events at a variety of venues, and businesses are always happy to accept the 'buff pound' because guests are respectful and unlikely to go elsewhere to eat and drink. He added: 'The nudist world is a real mix of people, from prison officers to barristers and doctors. 'It is the sense of freedom and being relaxed in your own body that draws people in. It's a very friendly environment. Inside Britain's most notorious naked village: with nude vicars, bush wars and strict sex rule 'If we go to a hotel, people generally don't go out, they stay all day. 'We have never had any trouble at any event. It's an older group and if anybody started a fight, they're likely going to break a hip.' Advertisement What struck me most about the trip was how remarkably normal it all was - apart from the obvious naked elephant in the room, this could have been any other boat trip organised by a local village church group. Upstairs, the nude guests - many of whom were pensioners - mingled and chatted while one volunteer sold raffle tickets. Downstairs, the naked disco was in full swing with some patrons shimmying to Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen while others lined up for the cash-only bar - with some sporting special pouches to carry their bank notes and phones. The £22 cruise ticket also included a free hot pasty, for those brave enough to risk spillages! My employer and child would be shocked if they knew Dee from Plymouth Members believe events like this are becoming more popular as Brits slowly relax their up-tight attitudes towards nudity. Advertisement An Ipsos poll found 14% of those surveyed identify as naturists or nudists while a BBC report suggests there are 6.7 million naturists in the UK. 11 Organiser Rachel Whick waves at passing yachts Credit: Neil Hope 11 A naked cruise goer grabs a drink on deck Credit: Neil Hope 11 Some members said they had to keep their naturalism secret for fear of judgement Credit: Neil Hope However, another poll for YouGov found four in 10 (59%) said they felt uncomfortable with being naked, with women being more likely to feel that way than men. Advertisement Some guests said they couldn't speak openly about naturism, believing their bosses would take a dim view if they found out. Dee, from Plymouth, said: 'My employer and child would be shocked if they knew I was doing this. 'For some reason, a lot of people for some reason associate what we do with swinging but it doesn't mean that. 'It's just people wanting to take their clothes off and enjoying the freedom, nothing else.' 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I said, 'A naked cruise,' and he just replied, 'Ok then' but didn't want to ask any further questions.' Advertisement Mark added: 'People are more relaxed than they were, our generation is more comfortable with it all. 'The more people hear about it, the more they want to get involved.' 'Many Brits are too repressed' Kevin Little, 61, from North Dorset, who has been a naturist since 1997, revealed he saves a fortune not having to pay for extra luggage on flights. He said: 'It's quite addictive. I love being on a beach and just connecting with nature. 'When we go on holiday, we can get on a flight with no luggage - we can take a little rucksack for a month. Advertisement 'We get frustrated by the cliched, seaside-postcard, t*ts-and-willy jokes but it's been that way for so long, it's hard to get away from. 'A lot of people tell me: 'I wish I could do that'... Well, you can. But people are very body conscious, although nobody cares.' His wife Tanis, 61, said: 'One of my sons is always trying to get his friends to do naked runs - he's tried to get younger people involved." One of the few under 40s onboard was Martin Niebroj, 39, who revealed he finds nudity freeing but admits it can be problematic in less organised settings. He said: 'I really like the social part of it. Technically it's not illegal to be naked in public in Britian, but it always causes a lot of interest. Advertisement 'I feel people who are naturists should be allowed to express themselves and should have a space to do it. Events like this allow that.' Martin, originally from Czechia and now living in Exeter and working in marketing, said many Brits are too repressed about nudity. He said: 'If you go into a public sauna in England you always need to have swimwear. In continental Europe, people generally are more liberal.' After three hours, the boat returned to the dock and the passengers dressed again… some more reluctantly than others. 11 The trip set off from Exmouth Credit: Neil Hope Advertisement 11 A member waves at a passing boat Credit: Neil Hope 11 Like-minded individuals enjoyed live music, some drink - and a pasty Credit: Neil Hope 11 Claire Stone and Mark Carroll enjoy a drink on the water Credit: Neil Hope
