Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
People love new things. New phones. New cars. New toys. But in the case of the Velveteen Rabbit, newer isn't always better.
When the Rabbit first arrives in the nursery, he runs into all kinds of new-fangled toys who really think a lot of themselves:
He was naturally shy, and being only made of velveteen, some of the more expensive toys quite snubbed him. The mechanical toys were very superior, and looked down upon every one else; they were full of modern ideas, and pretended they were real. (3)
These guys think they're all that plus a bag of chips because they having moving parts while the Rabbit is more classically made. He knows that he's just got imitation velvet fur and is stuffed with sawdust. Plus his sawdust filling is "quite out-of-date and should never be mentioned in modern circles" (3).
All right. So he's not the hot toy this season. No one is going to be standing in line for hours to get themselves a velveteen rabbit on Black Friday.
The Skin Horse is in the same boat. This guy is practically an antique. He belonged to the Boy's uncle and is falling apart from being loved and played with so much. Neither the Velveteen Rabbit or the Skin Horse are flashy, exciting toys, but they're both built to last. Something the modern toys can't say:
[The Skin Horse] was wise, for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive to boast and swagger, and by-and-by break their mainsprings and pass away, and he knew that they were only toys, and would never turn into anything else. (4)
Not only that, but classic toys are more likely to achieve Real status:
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become [Real]. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept." (10)
These modern toys are like the latest fad. They'll be gone before by next season. The Velveteen Rabbit and the Skin Horse will be around for a long time though. Sure, new and modern things may have their benefits, but in this case, classic wins hands down.