Is it worth it? This is the exact question I posed as I stood in the Paper Source gleaming at the Jellycat section and looking at the tag that read 34 dollars. For reference, this was the cost of one small four leaf clover bag charm. Is it absurd that so many of us have grown enticed by what may be simply an overly priced bag accessory? This story falls along similar lines of the Labubu story.Â
Jellycats are undoubtedly one of the cutest bag accessories, but do bag accessories need to be pricey to be cute? The popularity of Jellycats began in recent years, and now one is almost every other bag on campus. However, the brand Jellycat is not new and has been around for about 25 years. It is only recently that that has blown up over both TikTok and Instagram as a quintessential object on people’s bags. The brand began in London and now holds store locations across 77 countries, it is undeniable that these plushies have made their way across the world.Â
Now, like most parts of the world, I too have grown to love Jellycats, especially their bag charms. But is a $35 plush charm that’s only a few inches big really worth it? Well, on my trip that day it certainly wasn’t. In this shop, at this moment, I genuinely contended with this charm, nearly forty dollars simply for a plush we can put on our bags. This brings me to my next question, are Jellycats overpriced?Â
I think that there is certainly value in Jellycats in terms of the aesthetic that they provide, however, I have picked a few prices listed in their websites for bag charms: 33, 30, 28 dollars. It is important to note that all these charms measure no more than a few inches. The story of Jellycats and the public’s obsession runs similar to the story of Labubus where for one doll charm prices ranged from 25 to 30 dollars or more depending on their rareness. It is apparent that bag charm culture has continued to infiltrate our social media with nowhere to look but at these stores and websites. I vividly remember before the start of this semester scrolling on social media and seeing influencers pack their bags for classes and without fail each one had a Jellycat on their bag of choice. So now I ask: could social media be to blame for the popularity of Jellycats and other bag charm sensations? I think that is it without a doubt that social media has revolutionized the way we consume goods and what types of things we’re buying. I don’t think we can push back on the fact that a lot of Jellycats popularity, especially in other countries, has come from recent years of social media influencing markets. All it takes is one video to go viral with your product and within a few days everyone has bought it as well. I, like many, first learned about Jellycats through social media and it is true that it influenced me to make my purchase. However, the cuteness bag charm in the ball park of the one I previously listed certainly does not come without an expense. So is it worth it? My take is both yes and no. I think that these bag charms are certainly worth it as a once in a while purchase or as a gift, but considering their expense I certainly would not start a massive collection. I do love the brand Jellycat and do not regret my bag charm purchase, however, I think here lies a story of social media and its influences on what we buy more than anything. I am sure there is a brand out there with lesser priced bag charms, it just has yet to gain popularity. Nevertheless, I love Jellycats and will surely be treating myself to buying one once this semester ends. What do you think, are Jellycats worth it?