My addiction to all things quirky means that I’m eschewing traditional teddies for more unusual toys for the little one. I couldn’t resist one of the Amoeba rattles by Lipfish that BG featured last year and now I’ve fallen in love with Bholu’s adorable Bubalahs for their unique personalities.
The brainchild of Australian designer Jodie Fried, the ‘critters’ are handmade by women in the Gujarat, India, using age-old techniques, and based on original drawings by local children (who are known affectionately as bholus). Made from the softest wool felt in vibrant Indian-inspired shades, they make the perfect gift for new babies. The women work voluntarily, often from home, and a percentage of the profits is pumped back into the community to fund education, so it’s a socially responsible fair-trade venture, plus the company is climate neutral. Guilt-free shopping – that’s what we like!
The only problem is which of the six characters to choose. Personally, I’m torn between Quinton the giraffe and Marjorie Duck.
The main UK stockist seems to be Moomu, where they are £35 each, and you’ll also find Bholu’s beautiful embroidered cot linen on sale at the moment, but a few critters are available for £25 each at fair-trade boutique Boudalu.
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