Quirky toys experienced quite a boom on Instagram in recent years, and Good and Strange is one of the brands putting them on the map. Founded by Russian sisters Julia and Lisa, this toy company specializes in making some of the weirdest animal dolls that you’ll ever come across.
Good and Strange was founded by Julia Osminina, who started making her unique animal toys in 2016. She always enjoyed working with her hands because she found the process meditative, and putting more love and attention to detail into her work wielded great results.
“My textile sculptures are completely unique because I don’t use patterns or standard forms in my work. I prefer to create characters from scratch, guided by my mood, condition, and desire to work with different materials,” she explains on her official website.
Osminina’s dolls usually wear quirky costumes, and cotton, linen, and wool are some of the materials used in their making. She enjoys reusing materials in her work, giving old things a second life through her dolls, and making them as eco-friendly as possible.
Her sister Lisa later jumped on board and started writing short texts that accompany each toy. She enjoys composing stories that define the character and mood of each doll, making them unique and full of life.
