Mia Playmates
Mia Playmates showcase the seamless fusion of Montessori principles, slow design, digital cutting technology, and sustainable wood practices to create charming wooden toys.
For Mia Playmates, I’ve channeled my design skills into creating timeless wooden toys for families who value quality, sustainability, and craftsmanship. Amid a world of mass-produced plastics, it’s deeply rewarding to see the enduring love for simple, well-made wooden toys—pieces meant to be treasured for generations.
To set Mia Playmates apart, I drew inspiration from Montessori principles, focusing on minimal sensory stimulation. That means no paint—just the warmth of natural materials. A core part of this vision was using timber often discarded by the commercial industry: macadamia wood.
Native to Australia and more commonly known for its nuts, macadamia trees produce wood with a striking, irregular grain caused by their water-retention needs. Though traditionally seen as too unstable for furniture, this unique character became a defining feature of Mia Playmates. Every piece is different—visually rich, yet calming and gentle for young children.
We pair this sustainable wood with modern digital cutting tools and a slow-design mindset. By bonding macadamia veneer to a pine core, we create antibacterial toys that are both easy to shape on a CNC router and safe for all ages. Each playmate is hand-sanded and finished with food-grade wax, making them soft to the touch, water-repellent, and ready for years of imaginative play.
Mia Playmates is where Montessori values, thoughtful design, and sustainable craftsmanship come together to create wooden toys worth passing down.
