Steiff

Here at The Square Peg, we take great pains to ensure that all of the designers we work with offer goods of the utmost quality. But this is one name which has indisputably acquired legendary status.

The Steiff company was founded way back in 1880 by a wheelchair-bound German seamstress named Margarete Steiff. Steiff set about making animal-shaped pincushions for friends, but it soon became apparent that these items were hugely popular with children as toys!

The real boost came, however, in 1902, when Steiff's nephew Richard created the now ubiquitous Teddy Bear. And the rest, as they so often say, is history. Since then, the company has survived two world wars, multiple recessions and a pandemic or two. The digital age – along with all of the shiny distractions it has provided us – has yet to supplant the classic elegance of the teddy bear.

The company's longevity is thanks in no small part to the quality of their products. If you buy a Steiff stuffed toy, you're buying quality; each of the items here are made to the extremely high standards that the company demands. As well as teddy bears, you'll find stuffed hamsters, frogs, rabbits, gorillas, penguins and mice. And of course, each comes equipped with the distinctive Steiff in-ear button, marking it as an item of distinction.

If you're looking for a plush toy, then why not go for something authentic? Truly, there are few better than those you’ll find listed here.