Our extra people are simply just people

We wanted to take a moment to share something simple, honest, and very us.

Firstly, thank you. Thank you for choosing our products, for bringing them into your homes, and for taking the time to read this. It genuinely means a lot.

At the heart of everything we create is one idea:

Play & Enjoy
Simple

No hidden messages. No complicated agendas. Just beautifully designed toys, made to spark imagination, storytelling, and a little bit of joy in everyday life.

THE STORY BEHIND “THE PEOPLE”

Every now and then, we receive questions about the little characters in our toys, the tram passengers, ferry crew, ute drivers… the tiny humans that bring our pieces to life.

So let’s clear it up, nice and simple.

They are just people.

They’re not designed to represent a specific race, gender, or identity.
They’re not meant to be one thing or another.
They’re not symbolic.

They’re simply there to be part of the story your child creates.

Because in play, imagination fills the gaps, and that’s where the magic happens.

DESIGNING TOYS: THE REALITY (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS)

We won’t go too deep into the nitty-gritty (trust us… it gets very technical, very quickly), but there are a few real-world things that shape how our toys come to life:

• Cost & accessibility – we want our toys to be attainable, not out of reach
• Production limitations – what’s possible at scale vs. one-off ideas
• Durability & safety – always non-negotiable
• Design integrity – keeping things timeless, not overcomplicated

Like anything in life (and design), there’s always a balance. A compromise here creates strength somewhere else.

And for us?
We’ll always prioritise quality, safety, and beautiful design first.

ABOUT THE “SKIN TONE”

We want to be really open here, because this is something we’ve genuinely tried to navigate thoughtfully. At one point, we actually invested extra time, effort, and cost into creating a version of our toy people with different skin tones. It wasn’t a small decision — it meant more complex production, higher costs, and a lot more moving parts behind the scenes. And we did it with good intentions. But here’s the part people don’t always see…

If we were to introduce multiple painted skin tones, it would mean:

• Increased production complexity
• Higher costs for you (the customer)
• More room for inconsistency and error
• New design trade-offs (details lost elsewhere)

We still received emails — not kind ones — saying that we hadn’t represented certain skin tones enough, or that the selection we chose wasn’t right. And that’s when it really hit us. No matter what choices we made, we weren’t going to get it right for everyone.

And then comes the bigger question…What is the “right” representation? How many variations are enough? Who decides the balance? It becomes a space where it’s almost impossible to get everything right for everyone, and that’s a reality many small brands face. After going through that experience, we made a conscious decision to return to what felt most true to our brand and our intention:

- no defined skin tone
- no defined gender 
- just people

It removes limitations,. It removes assumptions. And most importantly it leaves space for imagination. Some people always notice it. Some people question it. And that’s okay. But for us, it felt like the most honest and balanced way forward.

A SMALL BUSINESS, A BIG HEART

We’re not a giant corporation with endless budgets and limitless production lines. We’re a small, independent business, and we design thoughtfully within those boundaries. This is also the reality many small brands face. We don’t have endless product lines or the ability to create dozens of variations across every design. Every decision comes with trade-offs in cost, in production, and in what’s actually possible.

And when it comes to representation, it’s a space where:

It’s almost impossible to get everything right for everyone. But here’s what matters just as much:

We celebrate diversity in how we show up.

• Through our photography
• Through our community
• Through our marketing and storytelling

Because Australia is beautifully multicultural and we love reflecting that in real, human ways.

As shared in our brand story, everything we create is about capturing the essence of Australian life and bringing it into homes in a meaningful, modern way.

WHAT REALLY MATTERS

At the end of the day, our toys are:

• Open-ended
• Imagination-led
• Story-driven

They’re not there to define the story.

You (and your kids) are.

A tram passenger can be anyone.
A ferry captain can be anyone.
A Ute driver can be anyone.

That freedom?
That’s the point.

A LITTLE NOTE FROM US

Before sending through feedback or concerns, we ask:

Please remember we’re people too. We design with care. We make decisions thoughtfully. And we always aim to create products that feel good, last long, and bring joy. Because in the end… We are all just people.

FAQ 

1.      WHY DON’T YOUR TOY PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT SKIN TONES?

Our figures use the natural wood as their base tone. Introducing multiple painted tones would significantly increase production complexity and cost, which would ultimately impact accessibility for customers.

2.      ARE YOUR TOYS MEANT TO REPRESENT SPECIFIC CULTURES OR IDENTITIES?

No. Our toy people are intentionally neutral. They’re designed to support open-ended play, where children can imagine and assign their own stories and identities.

3.      DO YOU PLAN TO INTRODUCE MORE DIVERSITY IN YOUR PRODUCTS?

We continuously evolve as a brand, but we also balance design, cost, and production realities. We celebrate diversity strongly through our community, imagery, and storytelling.

WHY NOT JUST ADD MORE VARIATIONS?

Each variation adds layers of cost, logistics, and design trade-offs. As a small business, we have to carefully balance what’s possible while maintaining quality and fair pricing.

4.      ARE YOUR TOYS SAFE FOR CHILDREN?

Yes. Safety is one of our top priorities. Our toys are made from high-quality materials and designed to meet strict safety standards, with non-toxic finishes and thoughtful construction.

5.      WHAT’S THE MAIN PURPOSE OF YOUR TOYS?

Simple:

To play, imagine, and enjoy.

No rules. No limits. Just good old-fashioned play.

FINAL THOUGHT

PLAY DOESN’T NEED RULES.
PEOPLE DON’T NEED LABELS.
JOY DOESN’T NEED EXPLAINING.

Just open the box… and let the story begin. ✨

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