By Abigail Chai, Entertainment Editor
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, you’re probably aware of the latest trend that has taken over the internet; the Stanley Cup. The large, metal tumbler that comes in a variety of colors is TikTok’s latest obsession, closely resembling the internet’s past obsession with Hydroflasks back in 2019. While coming in several sizes and models, it’s the Stanley’s 40 OZ quencher that has captured the hearts of millions across the nation. Only recently rising in popularity in the past two years, the brand’s revenue has risen from $70 million in 2019 to a whopping $750 million in 2023.
Much of its newfound publicity is largely thanks to social media users who have filled various platforms with videos surrounding the Stanley. On TikTok alone, the #StanleyTumbler hashtag has garnered over one billion views. With the constant raving about the tumbler by influencers and even the occasional mention by celebrities such as Olivia Rodrigo, it’s no surprise as to why the Stanley is the media’s most recent craze.
Most recently, several videos of shoppers desperate to get their hands on the newly released Target exclusive Stanley have gone viral. However, they have mainly attracted less than desired attention towards the Stanley brand and fandom. The posts often showcase the extreme extent to which shoppers were willing to go for the limited hot pink tumbler, with some lining up as early as four A.M. just to ensure their chances of purchasing one. From videos of people running towards Stanley displays and even the cops being called due to fights caused by the quencher, many spectators on the internet wonder exactly why the brand has such a chokehold on its consumers. To many, Stanleys are no different from the thousands of other drinkware brands such as Yeti and Hydroflask, leaving them unable to understand the built hype around the $45 cup. Is the tumbler truly that amazing or is it just another short-lived trend that people want to hop on?
And not only have internet users questioned the overall explanation behind the Stanley obsession, but also the part it plays in America’s growing issue of consumerism. With new trends seemingly rising every month, many find concern in the impact such brief crazes have on the environment and the waste the nation produces each year. With social media’s fixation of the brand on the rise, some have gone as far as to begin personal Stanley collections. Such collections often showcase several of the same tumbler models, with the only notable difference being the product’s colors. While collections on the internet vary in number, some exceed what many would deem more than necessary. With such large accumulations of Stanleys and heightened concerns over the nation’s tendencies of overconsumption, the question if a single person truly needs ten Stanleys in their lives is prevalent. Despite the fact that the Stanley was meant to be another sustainable and lasting alternative to plastic water bottles, could it really just be doing the opposite?
Not only is reusable drinkware meant to eliminate plastic waste, but to also minimize production costs and energy. However, the excessive purchasing of the tumbler seems to only be resolving one of the problems, while adding onto another. So while collecting the drinkware may look like a seemingly harmless hobby, there could be more damage done than originally intended.
The Stanley is an undeniably cute and intentionally sustainable substitute for single-use drinkware, but the reasoning behind the nation’s fixation on it lingers in the air. Although many internet users have raved about the Stanleys’ abilities to keep drinks ice cold and the general happiness that such tumblers invoke, many are left skeptical of the worthiness of the brand’s popularity. Time can only tell if Stanleys really are the greatest water bottle to hit the world, or just another trend that will run its course.
