The Stanley craze: How a reusable cup became the latest symbol of overconsumption

By Jessica Kutz

Originally published by The 19th

A dad and his daughter recently staked out a Target overnight, hoping to score the limited-edition reusable Starbucks x Stanley cup. As the dad documented on TikTok, they were able to secure one of just 40 cups released that day after leading a line that stretched the length of the store when doors opened.

At other Targets across the United States, the scenes were more chaotic, with women rushing displays to grab the special Stanley produced with the coffee chain in what have been dubbed Stanley “stampedes.” Another such stampede recently ensued over limited-edition Valentine’s Day Stanley cups.

The tumblers, known as the Stanley Quencher and first released in 2016, aren't much different from the myriad reusable water bottles and cups that came before them — they’re made of stainless steel and fulfill a basic task of holding and keeping water, something similar tumblers had been doing for decades without the social media hype.

So why are women and girls suddenly standing in line for hours to buy Stanley cups? And what does it mean when something made in the name of sustainability is sucked into a consumption frenzy?