College students adore popular plushies

BY BRYN FAWN

Squishmallows are the evergrowing craze of the past halfdecade. With simplistic-but-cute round designs, going as small as 3.5 inches and as large as 24 inches and soft and squishy textures, there’s a lot to love.

The official Squishmallow Instagram account announced the “Official Original Squishmallow Day’’ to occur annually March 7.

The holiday is intended for squishlovers worldwide to celebrate and express their appreciation for the adorable plushies.

The day selected was specifically when the first-ever Squishmallow was made, Cam the Cat. Cam the Cat is a calico cat, with a light tan body and brown and black splotches. Cam also shares a closed smile expression embroidered in the fabric.

That’s one of the appeals to the line, or a detail enjoyed by many. Each plush is given their own name and small bio, which shares their personality and aspirations. They range from wannabe-pilots, bakers or mathematicians. Squishmallows have branched out beyond animals as well, having made Disney characters or holiday symbols into eggshaped plushies.

Another appeal is the plush material. The texture of these toys are very sensory-friendly, allowing those with sensory issues, such as individuals with autism, to enjoy them. Many adults with disabilities, and of course children, have one of these plushies due to their texture and softness.

Squishmallows held a 12 hour long livestream on Instagram March 7 to celebrate. They also announced collaborations, such as claiming a free axolotl in Roblox, a popular computer game. The company held giveaways and also made an official Snapchat filter. Fans could also now purchase merchandise inspired by the toy line, such as t-shirts.

Kai Hemmingway, a junior TV video production major, is a Squishmallow fan. Hemingway owns many, and their favorite is their bull named Shep because they “love cows.”

“I think they’re very popular especially with the younger generations like Generation Z and younger,” Hemmingway said. “They’re a good price, very soft, very cute and have so many options that they can fit everyone.”