Steiff, the renowned German luxury plush brand, is known for its teddy bears beloved by generations, from children to adults. This year marks 144 years of history for Steiff. For this collaboration, Steiff has crafted a costume for the BE@RBRICK 1000% using the same high-quality mohair as their own teddy bears. Introducing the "Steiff BE@RBRICK 70PB 1000%," a 70cm tall figure with a smooth, supple texture and a beautiful sheen. Naturally, the signature button, a mark of quality, is attached to its ear.

First, let's briefly look back at Steiff's history.

Steiff's founder, Margarete Steiff, was born on July 24, 1847, in the small German town of Giengen. At the age of one and a half, she contracted poliomyelitis, which left her with limited mobility in both legs and her right arm. However, she discovered a talent for handicrafts and in 1877 founded "Felt Mail Order Company," which manufactured and sold clothing for women and children. In 1880, Margarete created a small felt "elephant pincushion," which quickly became a popular toy among children. This marked the birth of the world's first stuffed toy.

In 1893, the company name was changed to "Felt Toy Company." In 1897, Margarete's nephew, Richard Steiff, joined the company and made significant creative contributions. In 1902, Richard designed a 55cm tall bear plush toy made of long-pile mohair, with movable head, arms, and legs. This was the world's first teddy bear, the "55PB."

This teddy bear received an order for 3,000 units from an American buyer at the Leipzig Toy Fair, and soon became immensely popular in America as well. In 1904, as imitations began to appear capitalizing on Steiff's popularity, the company started attaching its trademark button to the "ear" of all Steiff products to distinguish them from inferior imitations. This "button-in-ear" remains Steiff's trademark, signifying the highest quality.

In 1906, the bear became known as the "Teddy Bear," named after U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, who had numerous bear-related anecdotes, including one where he encountered a near-death bear during a hunting trip but chose not to shoot it. This led to a massive boom.

This is an ideal collaboration between Steiff, which has strived for the highest quality craftsmanship as a plush toy company since the creation of a "pincushion elephant" by a pioneering female entrepreneur, and MEDICOM TOY, which is forging new frontiers in art toys with BE@RBRICK. When the costume is removed, pay close attention to the BE@RBRICK, which beautifully replicates the same mohair look and "button-in-ear" with water printing!

A teddy bear for adults awaits your hug.

Steiff BE@RBRICK 70PB 1000%
Size | Approx. 700mm in height
Release Date | Scheduled for release in May 2024 at MEDICOM TOY's directly managed stores and online shops,Steiff Japan Official Websiteand select Steiff POP UP events.
Price | ¥638,000 (tax included)
*Limited quantity. Please forgive us if it sells out.
©️ Margarete Steiff GmbH 2024
BE@RBRICK TM & ©️ 2001-2024 MEDICOM TOY CORPORATION. All rights reserved.