Our Story

As a parent, and an artist, I long for meaningful ways to keep my child engaged. I look for things that stretch her capabilities and bring out her creativity. I’m a big believer in Montessori philosophy, and try to incorporate those teachings in our home as much as possible. Am I the kind of parent who will only provide wooden toys and natural materials for my child? No. My main concern is that the materials, toys, and activities that I provide require deep investigation, creativity, and repeated practice for mastery. I know that this keeps my daughter engaged for a long period of time and keeps her coming back for more. But I also know it’s important for her to just be a kid, and play! This is why I founded Rove & Reign. 

 

The Spark of Inspiration

The inspiration for Rove & Reign goes all the way back to my own childhood, where my love of creating dolls and doll clothing began. My mother taught me to sew at a very young age, and my favorite thing to do was make pigs out of our old pantyhose! Yes, I am old enough to say that I wore pantyhose as a child (though I did have to Google if it was one word or two). 

If you want a really fun project for a child who likes to sew- check out the book “The Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Giggs.” This is where it began for me. From there, it became an obsession of making clothing and elaborate ceremonies for my trolls! 

I was never good at following a pattern. Though my mom tried to teach me many times, it never really clicked. It did, however, give me enough knowledge to play around and create three dimensional things in the physical world that I previously could only picture in my mind. 

Starting Rove & Reign was a journey driven by the desire to spark a similar kind of inspiration in others. Though you can purchase premade clothing for these dolls, you can also create your own clothing! You can design scenes for them, create stories, or simply take them out into the landscape. You could bring them on adventures and take photos- the possibilities are endless! We hope that you’ll take your doll on an adventure and share your story with us. 

 Our Commitment to Gender Neutrality

On top of everything else that drives me in my business, I had a deep, personal desire to create a toy that was gender neutral. Have you ever been to the toy section at Target, or shopped online for baby clothes? It’s incredibly striking how everything is designed to be “boy” (blue with no ruffles, and a normal inseam), vs “girl” (pink with ruffles, princesses, and inseams that are uncomfortably short). My wife and I say to each other all the time- why does it have to be like this? For us, the answer was- it doesn’t. We want more options for our daughter. 

That’s why at Rove & Reign we do not subscribe to gender norms! If you want to make a family out of our foxes, you simply purchase more than one! There’s no mom, dad, brother or sister fox. We just have a larger and smaller size so that you can create a family as you see it.

 

The Birth of Rove & Reign

We’re all familiar with rag dolls- one girl and one boy. I wanted a toy that could do more and be more. This is where Rove & Reign was born. In that gap between what’s available, and what I wanted for my child. 

Our poseable animal figures are unlike any ragdoll on the market because they have an interior wire structure. This allows them to sit, stand, hold things, make gestures, and so much more. All of our dolls are ultra-safe, super soft, and easy to pose. 

I chose to offer two different sized fox dolls, and plan to make a whole variety of animals in the future. All future dolls will be the same size- fitting in all of our clothing. This makes it more affordable to have multiple dolls. Special tip: Our clothing also fits some competitor dolls…

We recommend these toys for children 3 and up. Some of the clothing requires more fine motor skills and is recommended for age 5 and up. 

 

Building Connections Through Open-Ended Play

Another fundamental aspect of our philosophy is the importance of building connections. Play is a powerful tool for fostering relationships, both among children and between parents and children. At Rove & Reign, we create toys that encourage collaborative play, helping children learn to share, negotiate, and work together.

As a parent, I've found that playing with my child strengthens our bond and creates cherished memories. It's a joy to participate in her imaginative worlds and see the world through her eyes. Rove & Reign aims to provide more families with these enriching experiences.

At Rove & Reign, we believe in the power of play to shape a brighter, more imaginative future for our children. Join us in fostering creativity, learning, and connection.