A charming
world of cuddly friends,
loved by kids and grownups.
When Dutch designer Esther Schuivens was reunited with her long-lost
friend Sofie, in 2003, Sofie was just a drawing, well hidden away
on a piece of paper stored in Esther’s parents’ attic.
Esther was touched by Sofie’s humor and simplicity and used
the charming drawing, which she had made when she was just 4 years
old, as the model for her very first Esthex doll.
This was just the beginning for a growing family of dolls, stuffed
animals, and other delightful toys. Many members of the Esthex
family followed in the years to come, each with its own personality:
Phil the mouse, who shakes his rattle; Simon the snale, who shares
tunes from his music box; Hendrik and Henny owl, who dangle and
bounce from fingertips; and Anna the ballerina, who dances for
her friends. Sofie, the first born of the family, always wears
a hat and striped leggings, a feature that is characteristic of
many creatures in the collection. Every Esthex product is made
of soft, all-natural fabric, and many dolls and animals have long,
thin legs that invite children — even the littlest baby
hands — to hold and play and grasp. Together, all can travel
in a fox backback or be stored in a diamond suitcase.
In 2009 Esther’s colorful cat, Dora, crossed the Atlantic
Ocean to fulfill her dream of becoming a movie star. Soon she
was seen in theaters, sitting next to Sarah Jessica Parker in
“Sex and the City: The Movie.” Then, with Duck Sam
and Tough Boy Storm and other members of her family, Dora next
appeared in “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Imporium,”
proudly populating a shelf in Natalie Portman and Dustin Hoffman’s
toystore.
Esther’s menagerie of cuddly friends are made in Thailand
by sewing machine or by hand and are sold worldwide. The Thai
workplace is ICTI-certified, a proud recipient of the toy industry’s
ethical-manufacturing certificate that ensures safe and humane
workplace environments for toy-factory workers worldwide. |
