Fidget Friend
A fidget-friendly plushy companion
Made from upcycled textiles, this fidget-friendly plush features bendable arms, a zippered mouth, and a hidden pocket - endlessly fun, portable, and made to play.
EPOP Shop is a student built and stocked pop-up shop that has been running once a year since 2019. Every fall the EPOP studio class creates 12 unique products to sell at Firefly market in Boulder, Colorado using recycled and reclaimed materials.
EPOP is a part of the Environmental Design program at the University of Colorado and educates students on the process of designing a product from concept to production and market.
In 2025 EPOP shop sold over 200 products entirely made by students.
Meet the Team
Emma Browning
I love to craft and find ways to add some fun to life!
Natalie Free
I love to design products that make people feel happy.
Dylan Purka
I love finding creative solutions and coming up with new ideas.
The Process
How it all began: With the goal in mind of creating something both fun and giftable to sell at Firefly market, we started exploring ways we could create a new, more sustainable fidget toy. We challenged ourselves to create something unique but also easily understandable and cute. Then after much brainstorming, market research, and idea generation the Fidget Friend was born!
Sketches
We explored a bunch of different forms and ideas for the Fidget Friend during the initial stages in order to find something that was both cute and functional.
We considered different faces, bodies, features, and sizes to perfect the unique look of the Fidget Friend. Our sketches helped us brainstorm the ways we could began to construct the body and features of the Fidget Friend as well.
Prototypes
Once we had a variety of fun ideas we began to explore how they translated to fabric. We tried a wide variety of fabric types, face materials, and techniques. We also began to explore adding in a zipper or pocket and other attributes to make the Fidget Friend more interesting.
All of our prototypes were made of recycled fabric and wire to reduce waste. Each prototype helped shape the lovable character and inform our sewing techniques and material choices.
How Fidget Friend is Made
Collecting and Cutting the Materials
We sourced all our materials from thrift stores, donation centers, and other soft goods businesses. Then we cut everything to prepare for sewing.
Sewing
Final Steps
Once all the pieces were ready we began sewing everything together. We stitched the faces on, installed the zipper and pocket, attached the arms, and sewed them all together.
Friendly Faces
We designed three different face options and embroidered them onto scrap fabric using a computerized embroidery machine.
Once the bodies were complete we added the wire into the foam for the arms and then stuffed the bodies before sewing them shut. Then they were ready for market!
In the end we made over 20 Fidget Friends and when we took them to market we sold out of all of them!
