The history of Folkmanis:
The company's roots go back to the
late 1960's, in Watertown, MA. Judy Folkmanis began sewing
puppets for her son's nursery school while her husband Atis
earned his Ph.D. at Brandeis. Even with two small children
underfoot, Judy managed to design and produce enough puppets to
begin a cottage industry.
When the family moved to California, Judy enjoyed four years
of success as a sidewalk vendor, selling her "Furry Folk"
creations to the eclectic passers-by on Berkeley's famous
Telegraph Ave.
Then, in 1976, her business took an
interesting turn. Atis completed his studies in biochemistry and
switched to cutting puppet patterns. They soon hired several
seamstresses, and never looked back.
The couple has turned
their small venture into the premier manufacturer of plush
puppets worldwide, with about 250 of the most
heartwarming and realistic designs on the market today. Best of
all, after 30 years, Folkmanis, Inc. is still a family business.
