Welcome to our new blog! After years of sharing our passion for inclusive toys through our store and webshop, we're excited to introduce a new way to communicate with you about our mission, our products, and the importance of representation in the world of toys.
Why this blog?
This blog is a natural extension of what we do at Colourful Goodies every day: creating a world where every child can recognize themselves in their toys. Through this blog, we can delve deeper into the stories behind our products, share inspiring conversations with our community, and take you along on our journey towards a more inclusive toy market.
The mission behind Colourful Goodies
Our founder Ellen Brudet was confronted as a child with a reality that many children still experience today: the lack of toys that reflect them. As the daughter of a Surinamese father and Dutch mother - proud of her 'double-blood' identity - Ellen grew up without dolls that looked like her.
When her mother finally found a dark-skinned doll, Ellen was no longer interested because she had grown accustomed to playing with white dolls. This moment left a lasting impression, along with her mother's words: "Every child should be able to recognize themselves in their toys."
This belief has grown into what Colourful Goodies is today: Europe's first Black Doll Giftshop, started at a market in Amsterdam North and since February 14, 2016, a physical store. Today, we offer an extensive collection of inclusive dolls that reflect the rich diversity of our society.
What can you expect from this blog?
On this blog, we will:
- Share stories about the impact of representation in toys
- Introduce new products and explain why they are important
- Publish interviews with customers, staff, and other advocates for inclusivity
- Provide updates on our workshops and events
- Delve deeper into topics surrounding diversity and inclusion
The bridge between mission and practice
This blog forms the bridge between our mission and the daily practice of our work. We believe that by sharing our stories, we not only create awareness about the importance of inclusive toys but also build a community of like-minded people who share our passion.
Since the founding of Colourful Goodies, we've received attention from various media such as Het Parool, De Volkskrant, Trouw, Linda, Vice News, and many others. This recognition confirms what we already knew: there is a growing need for inclusivity in the toy world.
Your voice counts
We invite you to become part of our community. Do you have a question or comment about an article, would you like us to address a specific topic, or would you like to publish a guest article? Contact us and share your thoughts. Together, we can ensure that more and more children can recognize themselves in their toys and that inclusivity becomes the norm, not the exception. Welcome to the Colourful Goodies blog. We're delighted you're here!