I remember playing with a lot of old fashioned toys as a kid. I particularly loved my rocking wooden horse. Will my daughter play with similar toys? Probably not! Sadly, modern toys and gadgets have replaced toys of the yesteryear.
So when I came across this toy brand Little Latitude, it was a refreshing change. Founder Vinay Diddee is taking every effort to ensure old-school wooden toys, he grew up with, do not lose their charm. Albeit, to keep up with the times, he gives his toys a contemporary twist.
Last week, I visited his studio in a quiet green neighborhood of Bangalore. It really is a cool and calm space, perfect to get your creative juices flowing.
Diddee started this toy brand a couple of years ago, and has created a few wooden toys so far – camera, toy cars and the like.
I love the simplicity with which he designs his toys. They are crafted with beech wood, which is completely safe for children. Diddee designs the toys himself, before outsourcing the precision cutting to a local craftsman.
Another aspect of his design, which appeals to me, is the way he uses Channapatna, to design his components. Channaptna is a local wood toy craft practiced in Channapatna (a rural town near Bangalore). Obviously, the toys are not entirely made in ‘Channapatna’ style, so the entire toy is not bright and coated in lacquer.
Infact, Diddee makes his own sealant for his toys. These are made from beeswax and other oils. I try some – apparently you can use it as a lip balm too!
For Diddee, the goal this year is to add a whole lot of new products to his collection. Rattles for infants are on his to-do list, and so are toys for older kids. I’m happy my daughter can, in some ways, relive the childhood I did.
Check out the brand’s website: http://littlelatitude.com/in/
Are there any favourite games you played as a kid?
{Photos by Bangalore based photographer Pratap J. Check out his portfolio at: http://pratapj.in}
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