Leeds businesswomen secures funds to manufacture her mixed race dolls firm Akila Dolls
Olivia Thompson, founder of Leeds-based Akila Dolls, left her job as a receptionist in a law firm last year to become a full time carer for her seven-year-old autistic daughter, Amira.
During a shopping trip they both noticed a lack of diverse dolls on the shelves.
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Hide AdSpeaking to The Yorkshire Post, Ms Thompson said: “I always felt growing up mixed race that there weren’t any dolls on the shelves that represented me but when Amira said to me: ‘Why don’t the toys look like us, mummy?’ I suddenly thought, why in 2020 is this still an issue?”
![Olivia Thompson and her daughter.](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTE1ODU2NzYw.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Olivia Thompson and her daughter.](/img/placeholder.png)
Ms Thompson started researching different types of dolls available online and then did her own market research and realised there was a huge gap in the market.
She has spent the last seven months working with designers and manufacturers to design the first toy, which she hopes will be the first in a long line of diverse and disability dolls.
After a successful six-week crowdfunding campaign, with the help of NatWest, she is now preparing to manufacture the first prototype and officially launch the brand.
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Hide AdMs Thompson said: “I’m so overwhelmed by the response. The comments and feedback I’ve had from people is amazing. People who’ve never even met me have been so supportive.”
She added: “It just shows what you can achieve even in a pandemic.”