Welcome to Mr Pickles
The Beginning
Founded in the spring of 2016 by Lee, Mr Pickles emerged from a personal journey of navigating mental health issues. From a humble kitchen table in South London,
Lee-armed with a children’s sewing machine - began transforming sketches into delightful toys inspired by his own childhood. As his skills grew, so did his sense of well-being, with designing and sewing becoming a creative outlet that helped make his mental health challenges more manageable. And so, Mr Pickles was born.
Growing The Pickles Family
Lee started by selling handmade designs at local fairs, craft markets, and online. As Mr Pickles gained popularity, to meet growing demand and maintain quality, we partnered with our first manufacturer in India - a key step in scaling our production while staying true to our creative roots.
A Learning Curve
Lee had no idea how toy production worked at first. He sketched everything by hand in a messy sketchpad he took everywhere. He preferred working straight with fabric over using fancy design software. Our first manufacturer even laughed at his ‘tech pack’.
To this day, it’s still all hand-drawn - it keeps the brand honest.
Going Wholesale
Independent shops began reaching out to stock the brand. This marked the beginning of our wholesale journey. Stepping into wholesale felt like a natural next chapter-allowing us to share our designs with more people and build meaningful partnerships with retailers who value creativity and quality as much as we do.
Our Stockists
We’re proud to work with small, independent retailers - shops that bring heart and creativity to our high streets. They champion fresh ideas, value craftsmanship, and share our passion for authentic, thoughtful design.
Where We Are Today
Many years on, with over 400 stockists worldwide ensuring your little ones get to own a Mr Pickles toy, what began as a spark of childhood imagination has grown into a passionate team who bring Mr Pickles designs to life.