Although the very first teddy bear made by Chiltern was Master Teddy, the most popular bear the company created was the Hugmee teddy bear. Hugmee was first created in 1923, designed with high quality detail and memorable characteristics. The teddy bear was filled with kapok, a popular light fibre used as an alternative to down filling.
The bears were also made with high quality mohair, a silk-like fabric used in the early productions of many collectible teddy bears. Hugmee bears could be found in a variety of colors, such as blonde, pink, white, and the very popular golden color. It’s popularity allowed the bears to be produced for over four decades.
Those who collect early production Hugmee teddy bears are familiar with features such as its long muzzle, clear glass eyes with black pupils, and long curvy arms. The characteristics changed a bit as years went on, reducing the amount of fabric used to create the bear.
Earlier made Chiltern bears featured a fabric label which had the following printed in red: Chiltern Hygienic Toys, Made In England. Bears of the 50’s had a white fabric label with the same words, only printed in blue. Chad Valley took over Chiltern in 1967.
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