As most of you know we love the educational aspect of our animals on our clothing and were thrilled to come across a fantastic toy company that makes eco-friendly toys inspired by South Asia as well! From the natural look of the puzzles to the teachings of the Hindu religion we were quite impressed with the array of toys that exude education, knowledge of India, and pure fun for little to big pakoras!
We recently sat down with Aruna Hatti, founder of Gnaana, to discuss her inspiration for creating these magical toys:
When was Gnaana launched? What inspired you to launch Gnaana?
We launched in September 2009. I came up with the idea when my husband and I were living in Bangalore, India in 2005. I was pregnant - and embarked on a (fruitless) search for quality, age-appropriate educational material about South Asia for kids 0-12. Even the Indian kids were playing with (mostly plastic) Western toys - even in the schools. I thought this was such a lost opportunity - the Indian culture is so enriching - why wasn't it being presented to young kids in fun, hands-on ways? Hence, Gnaana was born.
What does Gnaana mean?
"Gnaana" is the Sanskrit word for "knowledge" (the "gn" is pronounced like the Spanish "ñ" in "piñata"). And actually, the English word "knowledge" is derived from it.
Where are your toys made? How are they eco-friendly?
Most of our products are manufactured in India. And no plastics here! We use high quality natural materials such as wood and tin - so children can connect with the beauty of nature. Everything - from the initial design (avoiding the use of varnishes on our wood products), to the inks we use and our packaging decisions (cloth bags and tin boxes) - was done with Mother
Nature in mind. I also consider myself very eco-conscious (e.g., I use flushable gDiapers and carry cloth bags when I shop!) and these values are certainly reflected in the company.
What do you love about being in the toy business?
It's just fun! I've met so many brilliant and talented people. I also love how it fits seamlessly into motherhood - my kids help me pick designs and we try-out our products in playgroups. Seeing kids enjoy products I've created is supremely gratifying.
What are your most popular items for the holidays?
Definitely our alphabet blocks, with our The Chota (Small) Chef recipe collection in 2nd place.
What can a child learn by using Gnaana toys?
They'll learn about a rich and magical culture - about its music, mythology, languages, geography, history and cuisine. Our products are also designed with the family in mind - we offer tips and ideas as to how parents and caregivers can use our products to bond and create wonderful memories with their children.
Can your products be found in retailers? If so, which ones?
Right now, we strictly sell through our website. We may expand into stores at some future point, but we're happy with where we are right now.
Thanks Aruna for sharing your company with us! You can find the products notated above at www.gnaana.com.
