Toy Trunk on Brown Living™

Toy Trunk

Playing is learning

Toy Trunk is not just a toy brand—it designs developmentally appropriate, open-ended toys for children from birth to 10 years, supporting learning during the most critical formative years through play. Our toys are thoughtfully crafted in collaboration with Indian artisans, using non-toxic colours and sustainable materials like wood and fabric, with strong attention to safety, ergonomics, and sensory experience. At Toy Trunk, we believe the right toy, made responsibly at the right age, can shape a child’s learning, confidence, and overall development.

About Toy Trunk

In today’s digital age, screens dominate children’s lives, impacting attention, creativity, and physical play. As mothers and architects, we—Priyanka and Minu—wanted something more: hands-on, meaningful play rooted in India’s artisanal heritage. With advanced degrees in Craft & Technology and Sustainability, our research on dying crafts, presented at IIT Mumbai ICORD Conference, highlighted the need to preserve traditional skills. This inspired Toy Trunk, where childhood development meets cultural preservation. Each toy is handmade with sustainable materials, natural colors, and thoughtful design, fostering cognitive, emotional, and motor growth. Collaborating with local artisans, we provide livelihoods and skill development, creating play experiences that celebrate creativity, sustainability, and heritage.

Brand Story

In today’s digital age, screens dominate children’s lives, impacting attention, creativity, and physical play. As mothers and architects, we—Priyanka and Minu—wanted something more: hands-on, meaningful play rooted in India’s artisanal heritage. With advanced degrees in Craft & Technology and Sustainability, our research on dying crafts, presented at IIT Mumbai ICORD Conference, highlighted the need to preserve traditional skills. This inspired Toy Trunk, where childhood development meets cultural preservation. Each toy is handmade with sustainable materials, natural colors, and thoughtful design, fostering cognitive, emotional, and motor growth. Collaborating with local artisans, we provide livelihoods and skill development, creating play experiences that celebrate creativity, sustainability, and heritage.

Mission Statement

At Toy Trunk, we’re building more than toys. We're building a platform for conscious parenting, for

Impact Created

We are a new startup. We started our journey in 2023, and right now we are on multiple aggregator platforms like Amala Earth, Ecoyaan, Ecobaby, having a similar sustainability ideology. We also received the Startup India Seed Fund in 2023 from the Government for developing our product range. Right now we are working on go to market strategy.

Impact Metric	Value
Overall employment created	5
% of Women Employees	100%
Number of Artisans Empowered	5

What are the causes you support?

Artisan Livelihoods

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Toy Trunk™ Pvt Ltd (@the.toy.trunk)

What is the manufacturing process?

At Toy Trunk, each toy is handcrafted by skilled Indian artisans using locally sourced woods like neem, ivory, and beech. The process begins with carefully shaping and sanding the wood to achieve smooth, child-safe forms. Instead of synthetic paints, artisans use natural vegetable dyes to bring vibrant, earthy colors to life. The toys are then polished using a traditional leaf-based technique, which naturally enhances the surface shine and durability without harmful chemicals. Every piece reflects precision, sustainability, and heritage — a blend of traditional craftsmanship and thoughtful design made safe for little hands and kind to the planet.

What are the ingredients/materials you use?

Wood: Locally sourced, sustainable varieties such as Ivory wood (Aale mara), Neem wood, Bees wood (Gmelina arborea), and Gouda wood — all known for being lightweight, durable, and child-safe. Natural Colors: Vegetable dyes and mineral-based pigments made from turmeric, indigo, kumkum, spinach, and soot (lamp black). These colors are non-toxic, eco-friendly, and safe for mouthing babies. Lac (Natural Resin): Extracted from the Laccifer lacca insect, this natural resin is used for lacquer polishing, giving toys a glossy, smooth finish. Leaf Polishing: Artisans use the Ain or Screw Pine leaf (traditional to Channapatna craft) to rub and polish the lacquer, bringing out a natural, chemical-free shine.

How do you source your raw materials/ ingredients?

At Toy Trunk, each toy is handcrafted by skilled Indian artisans using locally sourced woods like neem, ivory, and beech. The process begins with carefully shaping and sanding the wood to achieve smooth, child-safe forms. Instead of synthetic paints, artisans use natural vegetable dyes to bring vibrant, earthy colors to life. The toys are then polished using a traditional leaf-based technique, which naturally enhances the surface shine and durability without harmful chemicals. Every piece reflects precision, sustainability, and heritage — a blend of traditional craftsmanship and thoughtful design made safe for little hands and kind to the planet.

During its life and beyond, can your products be repurposed or composted at home?

Toy Trunk products are designed for sustainability, allowing them to be repurposed or composted at home. Wooden toys with natural finishes can be reused in craft projects, as building blocks, or composted in small pieces. Fabric elements made from cotton, jute, or other natural fibers can be repurposed for DIY crafts, stuffing, or composted if untreated. Packaging materials like fabric bags, recycled paper, and cardboard are reusable for storage, gifting, or composting.

Priyanka Mangaonkar-Vaiude

Priyanka, co-founder of Toy Trunk, is a mother, architect, designer, and researcher currently pursuing a PhD in child development and the role of play in early childhood. With a Master’s in Crafts and Technology and over 13 years of teaching experience, she leads Toy Trunk’s child-centric research and
toy development, blending traditional crafts, ergonomics, and sustainable design to create meaningful play experiences.

Minu Joshi

Minu Joshi, Co-founder of Toy Trunk, is a mother, architect, and design entrepreneur with over 13 years of experience in sustainable design and creative entrepreneurship, holding a Master’s in Theory and Practice of Sustainable Design from Cardiff University, UK. Founder of Ecour Studio and Acube Studio, she brings her research, academic, and design expertise, positioning her to lead Toy Trunk Pvt Ltd into its next phase of growth.

Shop by Category