When I think of the future, I think of a barren, disconnected one. I envision the future to be stripped of human connection and comfort; either due to the environment failing on humanity or that futuristic technology will render us emotionless and foreign to care and nostalgia. In order to combat the loneliness of the future, I decided to create a plush animal called Plush Friend. It resembles a traditional teddy bear in order to evoke feelings of nostalgia and reminiscence. In my opinion the teddy bear is the epitome of companionship. It involves the bringing back of memories and physical contact. The Plush Friend is both soft and furry, reminiscent of a furry animal or pet.
The idea spawned after thinking of future as a whole. I envisioned it to be both lonely and disengaged. I thought of a universal symbol of companionship and the teddy bear immediately came to mind due to its ubiquitous presence in every childhood. I began to draft ideas of how I wanted the bear to look like. While browsing, I settled for a traditional brown, fuzzy plush to preserve the universalness.
My first step was to create the pattern of a bear – through research I found the pattern and created a miniature prototype with a smooth, flowery fabric.
I used the pattern I found from online and created a miniature version of what I wanted to do in a larger scale. I used plastic buttons for eyes which was an aspect that did not carry to the final project. In order to keep the design completely sustainable I decided to create the eyes out of wooly fabric. Additionally, I utilized an organic, eco-friendly stuffing in both the miniature and final. While working on the final, I opted to use an old blanket that reminded me of my childhood, carrying on the theme of nostalgia and memory. By re-purposing the blanket, it allowed the entire project to be completely sustainable. 
In terms of a repair kit/system, I decided to include a sewing kit in the bear so that the owner can repair any tears that might occur. Sewn on its belly is a velvet punch that has a spool of thread and needle inside. Furthermore, the spool of thread is also sewn onto the bear in order to ensure that it doesn’t fall out. I added a lace ribbon and flower around its neck to both personalize it and add to its aesthetic value. Although I deviated from my initial sketch of creating a crossbody sac, I believe the small pouch is simple and does not take away the focus from the actual piece.
Altogether, I am very happy with the results of the piece. Although challenging due to the fact I had never made a stuffed animal, I am pleased with the final piece’s appearance and use of sustainable material. For further use, I hope it offers comfort to its owner and kindles a sense of coziness.
