A touch of bespoke

In an over saturated market of mass produced children’s toys, Raggidy Rag Dolls brings a touch of bespoke into the homes of children. With the help of celebrity mums such as Cate Blanchett, Rachel Griffiths and Kate Ceberano, word is spreading fast about these delightful characters, with orders now coming in from the United States. There are currently 16 dolls in the Raggidy Rag Doll range including characters for both boys and girls.Each 19” doll is handmade in Australia by skilled craftswomen, using natural fibres, vintage offcuts and limited edition prints from the Liberty range, Kaffe Fassette and other Australian and International patchwork fabrics.

Traditional techniques such as cross-stitching and embroidery are also applied, evoking a timeless quality and exclusivity that is rarely seen in children’s toys today.

“It’s so rare to find handmade toys, made in Australia that are really unique. We only make a certain amount of any one kind, we don’t subscribe to mass production. Depending on the fabric runs, we might only make 20 of one character, so they are all a limited edition and that is part of the appeal,” explains designer and founder of Raggidy Rag Dolls, Katie Graham.

Inspired by her childhood growing up in Perth, Katie also calls on her experience as a fashion designer and her love of vintage fabrics, which she says is a strong point of difference in the children’s wear market. Four years since the launch of her handcrafted, Australian made dolls, Katie has expanded into wall canvases featuring the Raggidy Rag Dolls characters, children’s tees and hoodies and a new collection of children’s cot quilts and lamp shades. The entire range is manufactured in Australia.

“People really appreciate that Raggidy Rag Dolls are made in Australia, and part of my whole marketing strategy is to keep manufacturing onshore and continuing to support local industry. I think mums really appreciate this and it’s important to them that the quality is guaranteed” says Katie.

You can buy your own Raggidy Rag Doll on Sunday 14 March at Mathilda’s Market at Hawthorn Town Hall or purchase online at http://www.raggidyragdolls.com.au/

Cheers

Anne x