Vulli and Sophie A Look at the Toy Manufacturer and Their Most Famous Toy

Vulli and Sophie A Look at the Toy Manufacturer and Their Most Famous Toy

Vulli was started in 1946 by a man named Joseph Vullierme. Originally a machine parts manufacturer which continued to be so until 1961 when the company produced a cute little giraffe named Sophie that skyrocketed the little company to success in France.

2. The company is based in Rumilly, a town in the French Alps.

3. In 2000 Vulli was awarded the Grand Prix du Jouet award for its toy, Sophie the Giraffe's Garden.

4. Vulli strives to maintain its reputation as an environmentally friendly and health conscious company, making toys that are phthalate free, BPA free, made of 100% rubber, painted with food grade paints that make the toys safe for your child to chew, and recyclable.

5. The production of the companies most coveted toy, Sophie the Giraffe, is still a secret to this day. All the company will say is that they apply a "special process and rotational molding technique" to latex, a rubber that has been made from the sap of the Havea tree which is grown in Malaysia.

6. Sophie the Giraffe just celebrated her 50th birthday in 2011. Her creation process and world renowned look is still the same after 50 years and over 50 million Sophies have been sold since her creation in 1961.

7. Vulli produces 250 items ranging from a Sophie key chains for mom, teethers, baby blankets, rattles, early learning toys, and bath toys.

8. Sophie the Giraffe is a popular toy all over the world and can be found in 40 countries and all continents. Vulli toys have been seen in the hands of many celebrity babies. Parents like Live Schrieber, Naomi Watts, Alisson Hannigan, Nicole Richie, and Sandra Bullock have purchased the adorable little curio for their babies teething needs.

9. The company champions the VML Association which fights to overcome Lysosomal diseases. Vulli produced and created Leo the Lysosome, a character and mascot who toured France to help raise awareness and money for the disease.

10. It's signature toy, Sophie was one of the first toys on the market not to be made in the image of a farm animal, making her instantly unique on the toy market. Vuli is a respected company that has a long standing reputation for quality toys, community commitment, environmentally responsible employees, a commitment to excellence in every product that they produce. In this era of recalled toys and lead based paint scares Vulli stands out for its use of natural substances and health conscious production.