Many bag charms—keyrings, pins, stickers and more—boast beloved fictional mascots. What’s not to enjoy about a cute character that serves as the enduring symbol of a franchise you know and love?
The popular characters that have inspired generations of toys, many of which hang off handbags today, have been around for decades. ‘Kitty White’ of Hello Kitty fame was created in 1974. ‘Miffy’ of, well, Miffy fame, is even older—Dutch artist Dick Bruna first conceived of her in 1955. Now, many of their peers are enjoying unprecedented heights of popularity.
Mofusand’s collaboration with CapitaLand has seen the adorable cat feature in pop-ups at over a dozen of its malls around Singapore. Not to be outdone, Far East Organisation are currently putting on their own Christmas extravaganza, showcasing the main cast of Sanrio, including the beret-toting Pompompurin, the tough tomboy Kuromi and, of course, Hello Kitty herself.
But what if we turned down popularity and put away the Mofusands, Hello Kittys and Labubus? Granted, they’re popular for a reason. However, there are whole worlds of silly, surreal characters out there that fly under the radar of most people—and these underdogs have plenty of solidarity to inspire.
These characters might be unfamiliar to the average consumer, but don’t let that fool you. They have a captivating appeal all their own. Oftentimes, they have entire mythologies built around their presence, chock full of weirdly endearing lore (the more seemingly random, the better). For the rest, they easily get by on cute charm alone.
We all need a bit of levity in our lives. So why not stand out from the crowd by looking to the underrated, offbeat characters out on the fringes of fandom?
From the deepest of deep cuts to popular franchises, read on for Vogue Singapore’s round-up of what might very well be the next character to adorn your bag.
1 / 8
Boris Bear
It’s almost impossible to escape Miffy at this point. The loveable children’s storybook character seems to be everywhere (we aren’t complaining, though). However, don’t overlook her friend, Boris Bear, a carpenter who lives in the woods with his girlfriend, Barbara. Would that we all could live a simple, fulfilled life like him.
Available on ActionCity.
2 / 8
Ushihito
There’s a clear formula to what constitutes a cute character, and one undeniable variable lies in the shape—the rounder, the better. Japanese designer Ushihito knows this well, crafting toys and tidbits that guarantee a chuckle. Just a heads up: their products can be difficult to source outside the land of the rising sun.
3 / 8
Maitoparta
Speaking of round, Japanese illustrator maitoparta’s world of zany, playful characters are all that, and then some. Their special collaboration with Heartware Store & Gallery is the perfect embodiment of their storytelling ethos, sure to bring a smile to your face with every spherical silhouette.
Available in limited quantities at Heartware Store & Gallery.
4 / 8
Sumikko Gurashi
One of the more popular series of characters on this list, the very small, very round members of Sumikko Gurashi still remain on the fringe for many. But that’s all in keeping with their lore, which serves an important life lesson—sometimes, fame is overrated. Better to remain, safe and sound, in the corner.
Available on VeryGoods.
5 / 8
Jellycat
The Jellycat bunny is many a child’s dream toy. But did you know the brand has plenty more characters in their back pocket available for purchase as a soft toy, bag charm or anything in-between? These include coffee beans, croissants and, yes, even sad storm clouds.
Available on Jellycat.
6 / 8
Amuse Puchimaru
Japanese toy company Amuse have been around for a few decades and are still going strong with their ‘Puchimaru’ series. These rotund animals can be found online, as well as at most Don Don Donki stores around Singapore. They might look like they’re fashioned from the same mould, but that just means you can’t go wrong with whatever you pick.
Available on Amufun.
7 / 8
Kuri-Manjū
Besides the main characters of well-known web manga series Chiikawa, there are many others to look out for, like Kuri-Manjū, a whimsical hybrid of a chestnut and a honey badger who acts like an old Japanese man—eating snacks, drinking alcohol and generally enjoying life.
Available on Chiikawa Market.
8 / 8
Choonsik
The cast of Korean messaging service KakaoTalk have built a huge following over the years, with some of the secondary characters coming into the limelight in recent years. The standout star here is Choonsik, a nonbinary cat whose favourite food are sweet potatoes.
Available on Kakao.
