Coolabi knits a new deal with organic toy company Chunkichilli
Independent international media group and rights owner Coolabi Group has today announced ChunkiChilli, a British organic cotton soft toy company, as its brand new partner for award-winning pre-school property Clangers.
This is the first hand-knitted toy range, and spearheads a new licensing direction, focused on the important gifting and independent retail market. ChunkiChilli will be offering the new range to all of their retail accounts, and the new knitted Clangers family are available to purchase from the Clangers official online shop.
Specialising in hand-crafted soft toys, puppets, souvenirs and golf accessories in soft organic cotton, ChunkiChilli has been collaborating with Coolabi to create five new beautiful toys of the Clangers characters Major, Mother, Tiny and Small, and for the first time ever, Granny Clanger.
Each Clanger will be individually hand-knitted in organic cotton that is both grown and dyed organically. Perfect for little ones at story time, or just to have a lovable friend to cuddle at bedtime.
ChunkiChilli helps families in Sichuan, China by providing jobs for knitters who would otherwise have to migrate to the city for work. The craft and knitting business was launched with a view to giving families the option to stay together, whilst producing toys and gifts that are bought and loved around the world.
Allison Watkins, Director, Director of Consumer Products and TV Distribution’ at Coolabi Group comments: “2019 has been a wonderful year for Clangers so far, with the Moon Landings anniversary celebrations and a brand new third series launching on CBeebies. This new partnership definitely marks the next chapter for our much-loved brand!”
She continues: “We are over the moon to be releasing these hand-knitted Clangers for the first time ever, especially around our 50th anniversary in November. The dedicated team at ChunkiChilli have created beautiful, quality organic toys full of charm. We are so excited to see how these new toys, which make perfect gifts, being enjoyed and loved by all of our dedicated Clangers fans.”
Tim Wilson, CEO of ChunkiChilli said: We are thrilled to be working with the team at Coolabi on such a special project. To be able to create the whole Clanger family in their knitted form is a true honour. The fact that so many new families are enjoying Clangers on Cbeebies, 50 years after the show was originally aired, shows just what an amazing and incredible show this is. This reflects the strong family values of ChunkiChilli, so it really is a perfect partnership!”
The new ChunkiChilli Clangers toys recently featured in the press as The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William was gifted the ‘Small’ Clanger toy for his daughter Princess Charlotte during his visit to the BAFTA headquarters in London for the new Behind The Scenes Exhibition, in which Clangers are featured.
The new hand-knitted ChunkiChilli Clangers range are available to order now from https://shop.clangers.com
ENDS
About ChunkiChilli
ChunkiChilli is the UK’s leading producer of hand-knitted puppets and soft toys, which are sold through several hundred independent toy shops, gift shops, book shops and garden centres.
The company founded and runs a knitting community in Southwest China, where the puppets and toys, as well as Christmas stockings and golf accessories, are all hand made by a dedicated team of artisans, many of whom have worked with ChunkiChilli for well over a decade.
Although ChunkiChilli’s soft toys have made several appearances in television shows and advertisements, the contract to produce hand-knitted Clangers is ChunkiChilli’s first venture into merchandising with a TV tie-in. But it is also one that ChunkiChilli is perfectly suited for, allowing it to bring its many years of experience in hand knitting to the task of making Clangers that look and feel as close as possible to the originals.
ChunkiChilli tries to use environmental and sustainable production materials wherever possible, and seeks to minimise the use of plastic and excess packaging.
