FAQ
Q -
Some of your bears are made using Mohair and Alpaca fur, can you explain more about this?
A -
Mohair has been used in the manufacture of bears since the 19th Century. Mohair comes from the wool of the angora goat known for it’s sheen and luster and its exceptional ability to take dye. Mohair is also considered to be a luxury fiber like cashmere or silk and has been used in the making of stuffed animals since the 19th Century.
Early Steiff animals used mohair in blonde, white, dark brown, cinnamon, apricot, and black colorations.
Alpaca wool is sometimes used instead or in addition to Mohair, all these materials are ethically sourced.
If you are a fan of good old-fashioned teddy bears, then you’re in luck! We have a great assortment of Charlie and Steiff teddy bears in an array of colours.
Q -
What is the history behind Charlie Bears?
A -
When she was just five, Charlotte ("Charlie") received her first teddy bear, which was the start of everything to come. Her passion for bears grew into not only a personal hug but also a vocation.
With the help of her mom and dad, Charlie opened and ran three teddy bear stores. One day, William ("Will") came into one of the stores to buy a teddy bear for his mum who was in the hospital.
As Will recalls, he left the store "with a bear in his hand and a song in his heart." He would soon visit Charlie's other two shops...to buy more bears for his mum, of course. The rest, as they say, is history. A year to the day after they met, Will proposed to Charlie, and a year after that, they were married.
Love, Dreams & Bears - Celebrating the first five years of Charlie Bears
Because of rising rents, Charlie had to give up first one, then the other two shops. She and Will decided to start their own business... but what kind? Charlie had always felt that there was a gap in the market for high quality, collectible teddy bears but at affordable prices. So in 2005 Will and Charlie made the decision to start their own teddy bear company, Charlie Bears Ltd. They would make plush bears but to the same high standards and with the same fine details as found in more expensive mohair bears. They sold their home and rented a large farmhouse where they could both live and work. For the first year they lived on what they called their "Baked Beans on Toast Budget".
It was during that first year, at a teddy bear fair in Münster, Germany, that Will and Charlie met renowned bear artist Heather Lyell who agreed to design the first collection of Charlie Bears. Later that year, in New York, they met Isabelle Lee who, in return for Charlie Bears helping to sell Isabelle's existing line of mohair bears in the U.K., also agreed to help design and manufacture plush bears for the new company.
The first Charlie Bears collection was introduced at the NEC in Birmingham in the spring of 2006. The range consisted of just 12 bears. With orders from over 100 stockists (retailers), the trade show was a huge success for the fledgling company.