Deglingos
Approx. price: £29
Age range: 0+ (3+ for Chikos and Pikos)
Website: www.funkyfeetfashions.co.uk
The Deglingos (pronounced ‘Deh-gling-oes’) are a wacky band of cuddly animals, originally from France and now available in the UK through Shropshire-based company Funky Feet Fashions.
‘Deglingos’ means ‘The crazy ones’ in French slang, and you can certainly see why these characters have been given this name – there are 10 in all and each has a manic glint in the eye.
The entire line-up includes Poilodos the sheep (main picture), Bigbos the wolf, Chikos the hen, Lapinos the bunny, Milkos the cow, Molos the lobster, Nonos the dog, Pikos the hedgehog, Ratos the rat and Ronronos the cat. Each is made from 12 different fabrics, creating a variety of textures and adding to the wild appearance.
We looked at Poilodos, who stands about 26cm high (the other Deglingos range from 22cm to 30cm). Poilodos is very soft and children love snuggling up, but the level of characterisation means that adult collectors are also likely to be enchanted.
The attention to detail is clear in the quality of the materials and construction, but also evident is a real sense of humour in the little introductory biographies for each creature in the small booklet that comes with each Deglingo.
Here is the entry for Poilodos:
Brrrr, it’s cold in here – can you close the door it’s letting the air in! Even with this fleece coat I get so chillios. As you can see, I don’t like the cold much but I am one chilled sheep – actually Ronronos says that I’m lazy. He’s one to talk – he’s always catnapping!
The Deglingos, you see, have their own language, which involves adding ‘os’ to the ends of many words. It adds a layer of characterisation to the toys that is really engaging.
These crazy animals are great for stimulating a child’s imagination and our testers were soon dreaming up various scenarios for Poilodos to act out – and simply turning this sheep to stare at a child is enough to induce a fit of giggles. The values of a traditional cuddly toy are also strong, with the softness making the Deglingos excellent bedtime buddies.
The Deglingos are machine washable at 30ºC. Most are suitable from birth, but Chikos and Pikos are not recommended for under threes due to the use of small threads. We recommend them without reservation.
Durability: 4/5
Longevity: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Score: 92%
Conclusion: Brilliant, genuinely original cuddly toys that appeal to both kids and grown-ups.
