The Stanley Cup is a stainless steel, reusable water bottle that took the world by storm in 2023. Hundreds of videos, featuring unboxings and people filling up the bottle with different beverages, garnered millions of views, influencing many to purchase it. Now, it seems that everywhere you go, someone is sipping from a Stanley Cup, often decorated with stickers and charms. But what sparked this trend, and how did this seemingly ordinary tumbler become so popular?
Originally invented by William Stanley in 1913, the Stanley Cup was designed with steel and insulation to keep drinks warm. Over the years, it remained moderately popular, particularly among older men. For years, Stanley Cups were marketed for camping and the outdoors.
However, when the brand introduced new colors and patterns, TikTok influencers picked up the trend, and the Stanley Cup quickly became the latest “it” bottle. Social media has done this before with other bottles like the Hydro Flask and the Owala. However, the influence of the Stanley Cup is more vast than we have seen than other brands before.
On Dec. 31, 2023, a pink Stanley Cup was released exclusively at Target, causing people to line up outside in the early hours of the day just to get their hands on it. Target even had to limit the number of cup purchases per person due to the extreme crowds. As more people caught onto the trend, the demand skyrocketed, and soon, Stanley Cups became a must-have accessory.
Stanley cups have also become a mass market for accessories. Decorating or “packing” your Stanley has become another huge trend thanks to social media. Keychains, charms, bags, straw covers, and many more accessories were added to the cups by creators to personalize their tumblers. Viewers wanted to join in on the “aesthetic,” further expanding the influence of the Stanley Cup. FOMO (fear of missing out) drove even more people, especially younger consumers, to purchase and decorate their own cups.
While Stanley cups fit an aesthetic, the durability is also what keeps the cups so popular. The tumbler can keep cold drinks cold for long periods of time, even keeping ice intact, and can be used for years. This only adds to its popularity with people posting videos testing the functionality of the cup.
A year later, the Stanley Cup remains as popular as ever, and its hype shows no sign of slowing down. Whether for its aesthetic appeal or practical use, the Stanley Cup has cemented its place as a viral staple.
