New handmade web exclusive bears from Canterbury Bears

The family run firm of Canterbury Bears has been going strong for 31 years. In that time it has worked with some of the world’s most prestigious brand names including Harrods, Liberty and Orient Express.

From its workshops in the heart of Kent, the company sends its bears out to new homes with discerning collectors across the globe.

Its latest development has been to launch four new collections of handmade bears – Funky, Vintage, Bespoke and Special Editions – which are currently available as website exclusives. Teddies in the Funky collection are made from bold contemporary fabric designs including funky florals, stripes, dots and the Union flag. There is also a Hero bear which is made from strong cotton camouflage material and wears a dog tag which can be engraved with a personal message. Canterbury Bears donates 10% from the sale of every Hero bear to the Soldiers Charity which looks after soldiers and their families.

In the Vintage collection, best-loved designs from the past have been revived including Anne Mepham, the Evacuee Bear, who is made from long, sandy-coloured mohair and comes dressed in a camel-coloured pure wool coat. She carries a box for her gas mask and has an identity label tied to her coat (pictured).

In the Bespoke collection customers have the opportunity to have a very special bear made from a piece of clothing that holds precious memories. Some of the bespoke work done so far includes the transformation of a child’s much-loved shirt into a teddy, a wedding bear created from the mother of the bride’s own veil, and a stunning bear made from a very special vintage dress.

Finally, Special Editions offers bears in a variety of styles including one, Signature Bear, which is designed to be autographed on special occasions.

This news story was first published in the July issue of Collectors Gazette. To see which issues of Collectors Gazette are available to buy online, click here.