What inspired you to start your brand? Where did you get the idea for your products?

Mr Pickles began its journey in 2016 at a kitchen table in South London. Lee had been grappling with mental health issues for a couple of years and was struggling daily. In his search for a hobby to help distract him and provide focus, he tried various activities like sports and painting. Eventually, he decided to buy a small children's sewing machine online to give sewing a go.

Lee taught himself how to sew little soft toys based on a small toy he had as a child, learning new skills each day and experimenting with different fabrics and styles. What began as a personal project soon expanded to selling to family and friends. Before long, we launched our first website and began selling, gradually building up a loyal customer base over the years.

Lee has a unique style, working with muted tones, simple forms, and quirky yet traditional designs. He has a keen eye for detail, ensuring each and every product proudly carries the Mr Pickles brand name.

We now have a wonderful production team in India who help Lee bring his designs to life, allowing him to focus on new creations and running Mr Pickles as an international business.

 

What’s your biggest highlight of owning your brand? Why do you love what you do?

I love what I do because it lets me blend creativity with craftsmanship, turning whimsical sketches into fun, quirky soft toys that bring smiles to people's faces. My favourite aspect of the brand is the design process—shutting everything else out and bringing the characters from my sketchbook to life as charming little companions.

Running a business has its ups and downs, but seeing the joy on a customer's face or receiving positive feedback always reminds me of the difference these creations make. It’s moments like these that make all the hard work feel truly worthwhile.

 

Looking back, what advice would you give to yourself when you first started out?

Looking back over the years, the main piece of advice I would give myself is not to take things personally. This is something I struggled with initially and still do today. The brand is so personal to me, and I’ve invested so much into its success, so it’s hard not to.

What can we look forward to seeing from your new collections that you are bringing/launching at Top Drawer? Do you have any personal favourites?

We’re excited to unveil a couple of new products that we've been secretly working on over the past 8 months. New product launches always bring a thrill, as so much effort goes into making each item retail-ready and when they are finally here, I feel like a child on Christmas morning.

My all-time favourite is Drew the Duck—there’s something about his simple shape and features that I find truly soothing, yet a little cheeky. Following closely is the Acorn family; perfecting their design took a lot of time, and many failed attempts, so seeing them on shop shelves is a moment of immense pride!

Can you describe the experience that buyers can expect when visiting your stand at Top Drawer?

When visiting the Mr Pickles stand at Top Drawer, buyers can look forward to exploring our entire collection, which beautifully reflects our brand’s ethos of combining neutral palettes with quirky designs. Our display is thoughtfully crafted to highlight the unique charm and quality of our soft toys, all presented in an inviting and minimalist style.

 

What are you most excited for when exhibiting at Top Drawer?

I thoroughly enjoy engaging with buyers at Top Drawer, as it provides invaluable insights into how my collections and designs are received. These conversations allow me to gauge the response to my work, offering constructive feedback that’s crucial for my creative process. It’s incredibly rewarding to speak to current stockists on how my ranges are going in their shops, which products are working the best for them. This interaction not only helps with future designs but also boosts my confidence to continue creating and evolving fun, quirky characters. The feedback I gather here inspires me to keep pushing forward and to keep creating more characters.

 

How do you operate your brand sustainably?

As a brand, we pride ourselves on our commitment to transparency and continuous improvement. While we’re not perfect, we have been on a journey over the past couple of years to enhance our sustainability practices. We’ve made substantial changes to our operations, including the complete removal of single-use plastics from every aspect of our brand—from production to the moment our products reach our customers.

All our products are filled with stuffing made from recycled plastic bottles, keeping the Pickles bellies nice and soft and the planet that tiny bit greener.

Our journey towards sustainability is ongoing, and we are constantly striving to improve with each new product designed and manufactured.

Visit them at Top Drawer at stand V39.