Teacher who made Bernie Sanders’ famous mittens partners with teddy bear company
- Jen Ellis’ recycled wool mittens were worn by the senator at President Joe Biden’s inauguration and inspired a million memes
- The primary school teacher is pairing up with Vermont Teddy Bear to meet increasing demand
Jennifer Ellis has never met Bernie Sanders, but she is enjoying a taste of his celebrity as the woman behind the mittens that gave the Vermont senator his viral moment at President Joe Biden's inauguration. Photo: AFPThe primary school teacher who created the recycled wool mittens that US Senator Bernie Sanders wore to the presidential inauguration (that inspired a million memes) is partnering with the Vermont Teddy Bear Company to create a whole mitten line to meet soaring demand, with some of the proceeds going to Make-A-Wish Vermont.
“I can’t be more thrilled, because I personally can’t make 18,000 pairs of mittens,“ Jen Ellis said Saturday, estimating how many people have contacted her. “Everybody will get their mittens -everybody.”
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Ellis, a teacher in the US state of Vermont who has a side business making mittens out of recycled wool, gave Sanders a pair as a gift, and he wore them to President Joe Biden’s inauguration. His fashion look, also featuring a winter jacket made by Burton Snowboards, sparked countless memes prompted by the photo taken by Agence France-Presse. The former presidential candidate could be found on social media timelines taking a seat on the subway, the moon and more.
Sanders raised at least US$1.8 million (HK$13,955,130) for charities stemming from the January 20 image of him seated with his arms and legs crossed, clad in his brown parka and the recycled wool mittens. Sanders put out so-called “Chairman Sanders” merchandise - referring to his new position as Chair of the Senate Budget Committee - on his campaign website.
Bernie Sanders meets The Simpsons. Photo: @NRothapfel/Twitter
Vermont Teddy Bear, which makes handcrafted bears for all occasions, including a Bernie one, reached out to Ellis to see if she’d be interested in partnering.
“Jen is going to work hand-in-hand - mitten-in-hand - with each one of our designers“ to ensure that the ‘Bernie mitten’ design in multiple patterns is produced in a way that meets her standards of quality,” said Hayes McCarthy, vice president of product innovation, brand creative and consumer experience.
It’s not clear when the first mittens would be available for purchase. Those interested in getting a pair can look here.