Founded in 2010 by Jane Van Cleef, Hazel Village creates soft woodland animals and dolls for imaginative play, along with handmade clothing for them and matching children’s accessories. Its Brooklyn workshop has a 15-person team, while social-enterprise artisan partners around the world make the toys, including hand-embroidered faces that give each one natural variation. The women-run business also designs limited-edition collections and emphasizes fair work, lower-waste production, and recycled or low-impact packaging.
Of Unusual KindFounded by Vienna-born textile designer and fashion illustrator Anja Kroencke, Of Unusual Kind creates illustrated paper dolls and creative play sets. What began as a crafting project with her daughter is now made in the United States, with each doll and wardrobe hand assembled in the company’s Brooklyn studio. Its collections celebrate women and girls through vivid color, individuality, and imaginative play.
Zaykutie IncFounded by Alyona Nikitina, Zaykutie creates 100% handmade collectible bunny companions, each made individually from carefully selected fabrics and finished with distinctive lifelike eyes and eyelashes. The brand’s seasonal editions are strictly limited to five to 33 pieces, while custom orders turn a customer’s idea into a one-of-a-kind Zaykutie. After 10 years, the workshop says it has received more than 6,500 photo and video reviews from owners in 17 countries.ROCKVILLE, MD
Lady IngaFounded by New York City mother-daughter team Maria and Katya Leibholz, Lady Inga is an end-to-end design and manufacturing studio creating custom merchandise for museums, attractions, hospitality brands and other clients worldwide. The company also develops its own K&M Pets line, whose dog-themed accessories are made from recycled materials. Maria brings regulatory and operations experience from her legal career, while Katya contributes supply-chain, logistics, marketing and design expertise.
Creative WomenFounded in 2004, Athens-based Creative Women creates handmade home textiles and decor through fair-trade partnerships with more than 1,400 women artisans in nine countries. Its collections pair traditional techniques and natural materials with a mission to preserve textile heritage while helping women build economic opportunity. The brand is especially distinctive for connecting shoppers with the makers behind pieces such as handblown recycled-glass tumblers and Tanzanian Iringa baskets.YORK, PA