[This week’s post is a little more of a personal read. We all love a good story, and this one definitely has a happy ending.]
As a family run brand, our people are the heart and soul of everything we do. Our team is made up of talented toy makers, designers and key office staff based right here in Surrey, UK. We are a big hearted, honest talking, hardworking business, with a shared passion for creating traditional wooden toys that spark young imaginations - destined to be played with for years to come.
Our story began almost three decades ago, back in Winter 1994, when Georges Le Van created the first ever Le Toy Van toy, our beloved Wooden Dolls House.
His vision was simple. To create beautiful, unique toys, lovingly made with intention, to stand the test of time. When Georges first son Jonathan was born, he soon became the inspiration behind the brand and three years later he was joined by Steven. Throughout their childhood they had the fun of testing and playing with their father’s wonderful creations. Today Steven proudly carries on his father’s legacy as ‘Chief of Fun’.
Fast forward a few years and Marie Le Van joined the business in 2012. Originally from Normandy, France, she studied Child Phycology and Product Design as part of her master’s degree at the Centre Européen des Produit L’Enfant. She instantly fell for the brand, showing a natural flair for design and quickly became involved in the creative side of the business here in London. As a forward thinker and with her appreciation of sustainable living & passion for design, she went on to become Creative Director of the business. A pivotal role she fulfils to this day.
Steven and Marie showed signs of a great working relationship, which turned into something greater. With their shared desire to grow the business, they became a strong united force and were happily married in Summer 2019.
The future is certainly looking bright, six months ago we were delighted to welcome a new addition into the Le Toy Van family, with the birth of baby Louis, the first child of Steven and Marie, and fourth Grandchild of Georges.
We’re happy to have picked up a fair few awards along the way too, covering everything from design, quality, safety, sustainability and educational play value. We’re always striving to improve our products and adhere to the highest industry standards.
From the very beginning, we've always put the planet and our people first. It's a way of life for us. When you buy a toy from Le Toy Van, you can rest assured that our focus is always on keeping environmental impact to a minimum. You can read more about our sustainability and Plastic Free Promise.
Today, our toys continue to spark young imaginations through learning- based fun, ready to be cherished and enjoyed for a lifetime of play.
We hope you feel inspired to explore our toy shop, bursting with imaginative treasures that bring the magic of play to life, today and for generations to come.
Thank you for being a part of our journey.
