Teddy bears have often held a special place in many people’s hearts and they can become a treasured part of the family, handed down through generations. Steiff has a long tradition of creating these very special and beloved teddy bears that are hand-made and crafted with love.

The first Steiff plush toys to come into creation were imagined and hand-crafted by German seamstress Margarete Steiff in 1880 as small pincushions in the shape of elephants and later other animals like cats and dogs. However, after Margarete noticed many children liked playing with them, she started making plush animals centred around children’s toy designs. They were a huge hit with both children and adults alike and from there the company started to grow and grow.

Margarete knew that the key to her company’s success was in producing a high-quality product, which is why the materials she chose to use were always of an exceptional standard like alpaca fur, mohair or felt. Another key quality concept that still remains today is that the majority of the work was done by hand, proving that these bears aren’t just mass-produced in factories but crafted with love, care and attention to detail.

It wasn’t until Margarete’s nephew Richard joined the company in 1897 that he introduced the concept of the ‘Teddy Bear’. While working at his aunts company and studying at art and design school, he would often visit the local zoo and sketch the bears. The first prototype created in 1902 was simply called ‘Steiff Bar 55’ as it stood 55cm tall and was five-way jointed. The bear wasn’t an instant success but once an American buyer saw the bear at the Leipzig Toy Fair in 1903, he bought the whole 100 that were there and then ordered another 3000 and the popularity of the Steiff Bear had begun. The term ‘teddy’ wasn’t used until later in regards to several legends around US President Theodore Roosevelt.

By 1907, Steiff had manufactured 974,000 bears and continued to go from strength to strength. The popularity was established due to their rigorous testing and inspections which adhered to Steiffs’ motto (styled by Margarete) ‘Only the best is good enough for children’ .

These days Steiff bears continue to be an ever-popular bear for both children and collectors. They often become valued members of the family and are passed down through generations as they are so well made that they truly stand the test of time. In fact the very first ‘Steiff Bar 55’ from 1902 is still on show in the Steiff Museum and is still in excellent condition. The tradition that Margarete Steiff started all those years ago is still going strong and the word Steiff has now become eponymous with quality and care.