MEET OUR SUPPLIERS
Moo & The Gang
This little family business started a bit by accident, when Bri posted some home-made toys on a local Buy-Sell site and within a month they had a business. Their vision is to provide beautiful, natural, safe toys for people who want to gift their children with sustainable, earth friendly, Waldorf inspired toys but don’t have the budget for the classic Euro brands. Sustainability and the protection of Mother Earth is central to both their business and the way they live. “We focus on living close to the seasonal rhythms of the earth, making sustainable and healthy choices not only for future generations but also for the other species we share the planet with. This means shopping as ethically, sustainably, and locally as we can, being as plastic free as we possibly can, repurposing everything to ensure minimal waste, and generally having less, and knowing what our priorities are”. This family of seven lives in a self-built house-bus, making all of their toys off-grid as they travel. Their children are their primary focus, and are the inspiration behind the toys they create.
Early Bird Toys
Early Bird Toys is a dad and daughter team, Abi and Dave. Abi is a qualified Early Childhood Teacher, with a teaching philosophy which draws from Reggio, RIE and Montessori. Abi is inspired to create beautiful learning environments which provoke wonder and delight. Dave's background in carpentry and building lends perfectly to the company, and his skill set in design and photography also comes in pretty handy!
Early Bird Toys grew from an idea of creating Abi’s littlest early bird, Zoey, a Pikler Triangle for her first birthday. As they began designing and creating, more ideas for potential presents grew from there, and the rest developed naturally. The motivation for other children to have access to thoughtfully designed, beautiful play things grew Early Bird Toys to where it is today. Their family business prides itself on sparking joy, delight and wonder in their wee customers, with a strong focus on open ended, robust toys and resources. “ We are very conscious of the environmental impacts that throw away culture and excessive consumerism is having on society, our environment and our children's future. We see that our customers hold the same values, and more people are now choosing to shop locally, from small businesses such as ours. We hope that this shift continues, and more people begin to appreciate the beauty of handmade with love items, over mass produced”.
Eco-Crayons
Naomi created Eco-Crayons after watching her daughter chew on her art supplies as a toddler and growing alarmed as she researched what her child was being exposed to with mainstream art supplies. As a parent and a teacher she wanted to know that the children in her circles were using safe art mediums to draw, paint, explore, inquire, mould and build. After endless nights of reading and experimenting she created Eco-Crayons and Eco-Paints, a 100% plant-based, truly non-toxic and eco-friendly alternative art set. Naomi is the owner and sole creator, assisted by her Mum who supports both her creative business efforts and her family; and by her children who help her fold boxes, pack orders and play with her beautiful products. Passionate about environmentalism and education, Naomi’s business puts sustainability first, with eco-friendly products, processes and packaging. Her work studio was created by her father, and incorporates a gravity-fed water system which then irrigates her garden. All waste from her studio is recycled or composted.