The new year has ushered in a busy start. Jeremy Allen White strips down to his shorts. For some reason, everyone dresses like a gangster wife. Although a franchise wedding just took place, The Bachelor is about to return for another season. People are already getting into physical fights over Stanley's viral limited-edition colorway of the Quencher water bottle, which he teamed up with Starbucks.
Stanley is the name on everyone's lips now. Founded in 1913, Stanley products were the bottle of choice for pilots in World War II and have always been a favorite brand among blue-collar workers. But now, thanks to #WaterTok creators and family channels, the brand's standout product is a 40-ounce reusable cup with a large handle and long straw that's known to hold up even in the event of a car crash Also keeps drinks cold for days. on fire.
For some, Stanley is more than just a water bottle, it has become a core element of their lives. People who once disbelieved suddenly show up in your five-year plan to share how the cup changed their habits. Some particularly coveted colors can have resale values of up to $215 on sites like StockX. On TikTok, people are showing off rooms in their homes dedicated to displaying Stanley's collection. Some people say they have never felt so dehydrated before. The Etsy shop sells accessories like nameplates, straw covers and wearable straps designed just for Stanley.
But this isn't the first time beverage containers have become an entire statement feature. Decades before anyone bought a stand for Stanley, other mugs were a must-have accessory.
red solo cup
The red Solo mug has been a staple at family barbecues and frat houses since the 1970s, with billions sold every year. If you're a Millennial, you probably covered up the red Solo cup in your photos before you turned 21, either with a carefully choreographed pose or some clever editing. For Gen Z, blatantly holding a cup in a photo is a bit hilarious—and besides, kids these days are probably drinking BORG.
Back then, though, holding a red cup was a badge of honor for underage drinkers. You know it's not just filled with regular soda; Whoever was holding it must have been drinking something. Not in front of you, a little shy.
The cup has become synonymous with partying, thanks in part to Toby Keith's aptly named 2011 hit "Red Solo Cup," in which he proudly celebrates all of its qualities. They're cheap, disposable, easy to stack, and have even helped him get "lucky" once. Not too shabby for a product that retails for about 12 cents.
Starbucks tumbler
Starbucks started selling seasonal reusable glasses in the 2000s, and it wasn't long before fans turned into full-blown collectors. The most basic cold mugs start at $3, while some of the rarest limited editions sell for over $100 on eBay. The brand launches special editions every season, from neon-lined glasses to color-changing cold drink tumblers.
Some might say the Starbucks collectors walk so Stanley fans can run. These cups are iconic to those who are familiar with Marshall's coffee and probably drink iced coffee year-round. Plus, they're the sign of a true fan—they own their favorite coffee chain and remain loyal to it.
Ashley, 31, has been curating her line of Starbucks tumblers since 2020, when she helped her friends find specific cups and fell in love with the chase. Now she mainly buys international Starbucks cups from places like South Korea and China.
“Starbucks caught my attention because their cups are so unique—some light up, some have cute characters on them,” she said. She prefers Starbucks mugs to new trends like Stanleys ("They're too big") and actually only uses 25 of her 195 mugs in her collection to maintain their value.
Water bottle
The Hydroflask VSCO girl craze of 2019 was the viral aesthetic that Gen Z championed before the clean girl look or showing off anything. VSCO girls take their Spotify playlists very seriously and are always taking photos with their Polaroid cameras (or at least editing their photos to make them look like they were taken on film).
Hydroflask water bottles—especially brightly colored ones with stickers on them—become an integral part of this look, along with scrunchies, oversized graphic pastel T-shirts, and Birkenstocks. Those who still love this product are retired VSCO girls or can't justify replacing it after spending $45 on it during the brand's heyday.
Stanley vs. Ovallas
Fast forward to 2024, and you'll find two opposing camps of Aquarians—Stanley Cup quench diehards and Ovala free-drinking fans. Both Aquarius loyalists have been online for a long time, although Stanley's user is more shameless about it. Owning Stanley is about establishing yourself as a brand with tons of screen time and a roster of influencers you love. Ovala users are more discreet about their vulnerability. The stylish look of the bottle is very "if you know it, you know it" and since the bottle closes easily, it's perfect for taking on the go. No matter which side of the debate you're on, you're probably familiar with TikTok, or have a cool Gen Z cousin telling you what "trending" means.
Both options come in bright hues with the occasional seasonal color drop, but it's the Stanley Cup that has some people setting their alarms and pumping their fists. The mug craze itself has increased the company's revenue tenfold, from $75 million annually to $750 million by 2023.
But for Ovala's supporters, there's no contest. Brian, 24, has four children. He got his first water bottle last year, having never owned a reusable water bottle before, and now he's obsessed with Ovalla.
“I got [my first one] in the summer and I used it so much that I broke it — that’s not a knock on Ovala, it’s just proof that it’s always been there for me,” He said.
"I'm Team Ovala because I love their brand, love the colors they drop, and I find them to be the perfect shape. At least I'm told that when I drink from a water bottle with a straw hanging on it, I look It looks like a baby, so Ovara solves that problem because the straw is hidden," he said. "Sure, they don't fit in the cup holders in my car, but that's the sacrifice Ovala made. They're iconic."
No matter what you drink, if you can stay hydrated, that's a win. Maybe you've fallen victim to the current Stanley Cup craze and you'll look back in a few years and laugh because you've entered the next five-year plan-induced over-the-top gaze.
But it could always be worse - you might be one of those weirdos who doesn't like water. Stay thirsty.
