Hugimals World's founder Marina Khidekel, a health & wellness journalist who served as deputy editor at Women's Health and Cosmopolitan and Chief Content Officer at Thrive Global, created Hugimals and launched Hugimals World in summer of 2022 out of a personal quest... and loads of research.
Searching for a product that was more portable than a weighted blanket to help with her nighttime anxiety, Marina couldn't find what she was looking for: a high-quality, beautifully designed, substantially weighted plush that could help ease anxiety in both kids and adults. So, after several years of researching, working with therapists, and prototyping, she created Hugimals.
A pilot program in hospitals across the country confirmed the product's effectiveness in providing sensory and emotional support to families in a high-stress environment. Armed with that validation, and a vision to create a World of high-quality comfort items that could help people of all ages relieve anxiety, Marina was ready to launch Hugimals World.