An interview with Webkinz plush designer!
As we celebrate 20 years of Webkinz, we couldn’t resist revisiting one of the most beloved collections in Webkinz history—the iconic Signature line.
Dorothy Lou sat down with Erica, the all-star plush designer and head of Plush Product Development at Ganz, for a behind-the-scenes look at the artistry and care that went into bringing these premium pets to life.
Erica has been the creative force behind every Webkinz plush we’ve come to know and love, and it was a true pleasure catching up with her to reflect on her incredible work.
DL: What was the idea behind the Signature line?
E: When we started the Webkinz Signature line we wanted to offer fans an elevated collection piece that still gave them all the in game play that they already loved.
DL: How did you achieve the elevated look?
E: The fabrics we selected were atypical of what was happening in the plush industry at the time but spoke to the traditional plush toys of the 1990s where fabrics were knitted vinyls.
The cuts of the fabric were unique to each pad, with pile lengths that went from smooth to an uneven cut in order to replicate the realism of an animal’s true coat. We then added sparkling crystal eyes, which are much more lifelike, and details such as airbrush.
DL: Airbrushing sounds so special and challenging!
E: Yes, airbrushing itself is a specialized art. Color gradations and subtle details can be achieved through airbrushing and spraying right onto the plush. But, the artist can’t mess up if the airbrushing goes wrong, the plush is ruined. This means that each piece had to be really slowly and very carefully crafted
DL: Of course we all know a signature when we see one, but you added details just to iconify the collection–
E: We topped the items off by changing the thread of the magic W to a golden thread, and added gold foil embossing to the hang tag, completing the overall look.
DL: An overall look that is still beloved.
E: These items were, and still are, high end collector’s pieces with an attention to detail that we are really proud of.
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I would like a pomeranian dog to adopt.
maybe that’s why i love signatures so much- they remind me of toys from when i was a really little kid. there are many well-loved signature pets in my home! im so happy to have collected as many as I did.
Slowly trying to get more signature plushies, i’ve adored this line but i didn’t really get them growing up. Hoping to get the orange tabby to memoralize my sweet childhood cat
I bet these would sell well at zoos/aquariums/museums, might be cool to see u guys team up w a charity n sell some that benefit real animals
I second this suggestion!! Although I think I remember reading that Ganz is never making them again. I went to elementary school with an Erica. We lost touch after school. It would be awesome if she was somehow the same Erica bringing joy to the world through Webkinz plushies.
Im so proud of my signatures and I treasure them very much. I hope one day all of them will get cycled through the eshop digitally. I have my heart set on a signature arctic fox one day.
This is so cool!!! I love the Signatures so much. The Signature Arctic fox is my all-time favorite Webkinz pet. What exactly is meant by “crystal” eyes? Do you mean actual crystal, or plastic that imitates crystal? Also, I remember a long time ago it was said that the Signatures were made by a third-party company. Does that third-party company still exist?
I still have all my Signatures and have collected more over the last couple of years. By far my favorite plush series you guys have made!!
If you were to bring back the signature collections, I would definitely buy some! I still love my signature ocelot, he is so beautiful ❤️
You guys NEED to bring back the signature line!!!!!!!!
I have kept every single one of my Webkinz Signatures. My first one was the Signature Endangered Bengal Tiger. I have kept them in beautiful condition, and I have them displayed in our office. I miss the Signature line, and I wish the exact same style of signatures would be brought back.