OUR STORY

Our Story

“Learning through play” is the company’s aim – we do this by creating fun Welsh-language toys that are part of your family’s everyday life, while also representing our identity, culture and Welshness here in Wales.

 

We’re a family business founded on Anglesey. The company began almost by accident when our daughter Cari Mon (now 5 years old) was having trouble sleeping. We decided to create a Welsh-language star-shaped toy to help her sleep. Cari loved it, and it worked wonderfully! Our friends and family were very interested in the toy, so we decided to try making a larger batch and see how they sold. Making the star was a very difficult and complex process, as we had no experience making toys before! But there was no need to worry: the first batch sold out in a month, and the second and third did much the same. It was clear that we were right to think there was a need in the market for toys like these. We then went on to create Draigi (inspired by our second child, Mabon). Draigi was another big hit, and has now sold out too. It has become a symbol of Wales and Welshness, and is always brought along to every rugby photo and St David’s Day celebration, which is wonderful!

 

 

Our toys are irresistible to children and babies, who often refuse to sleep, settle down or leave the house without them!! Since the company was founded in 2017, we’ve sold over 12,000 toys, which is incredible when you consider that we were also closed for over a year during that period! The toys are now “National Treasures”, and are essential for every home that wants to see the language flourish in their children’s everyday lives.

Photos by Simcowithax

Learning Through Play: Nurturing the Welsh Language

1. Play Is Powerful — and Language Is Its Voice.

Every toy we make is a gateway to Welsh. Through play, children learn naturally — building vocabulary, confidence and a sense of belonging. Our toys are more than just fun; they are hidden teachers that help Welsh live, laugh and thrive in the everyday life of childhood.

2. Welsh Belongs in Every Playroom.

Welsh flourishes when it is part of a child’s world — not just in the classroom, but in songs, stories and play. When a child cuddles a Welsh-language toy, solves a Welsh alphabet puzzle, or wins a Welsh board game, they make the language a living part of their identity.

3. We Build What No One Else Does.

Our mission is unique. We design and make toys specifically for play through the medium of Welsh — not as something unusual, but as something essential. Our small-scale production means higher costs, but also uncompromising quality, care and integrity. Silwli toys cannot be compared with mass-produced commercial products; ours are made with purpose, not for profit.

4. Support the Language — One Toy at a Time.

Every purchase helps sustain Welsh in the most natural way possible — through play. You’re not just buying a toy; you’re investing in the cultural confidence of the next generation, supporting local design, and ensuring that Welsh continues to be spoken, loved and lived.

5. Join the Movement — Play for the Future.

This is a call to parents, carers and communities: let’s raise a generation that hears, speaks and dreams in Welsh. Together, through play, we can keep the language alive and our culture strong.
Choose Welsh. Choose Silwli. Choose the future.