Adults Are Stepping Into The Toy Zone

Cuddly toys have moved out of the clutches of children and into the wardrobes of grown-ups

- Pooja Singh

Open up a social media feed, and you are bombarded with blink-and-you-miss-it trends. There is one quirky movement, though, that's been enjoying a fan following among the stylish for months—the cuddly toy. Look around you—a small doll with a mischievous smile might be strapped to a work bag or a cartoon-ish motif is adding a pop of colour to a shirt in an office. Even mobile phones are getting more personality thanks to anime-inspired charm bracelets and covers. Cutesy toys and figurines in various shapes, sizes and colours from a child's world have entered the wardrobes of grown-ups.

Fashion is tapping into "toycore"—the marriage of fashion and cuddlies. While luxury brands like Miu Miu, Judith Leiber and Hermès have long launched toy-centric charms and bags, more designers and fast-fashion brands are offering their interpretations in clothes.

Earlier this month, designer Kanika Goyal launched a limited edition collection in collaboration with Disney, aimed at adding the playfulness of Mickey Mouse and his friends to adult fashion that's fit for office, a brunch as well as an evening party. There's a two-tone jacket in denim blue and beige cotton to create concentric circles shaped like Mickey Mouse's ears that are filled with embroidery—pop culture meets streetwear.