Design and Manufacturing Services

For over 25 years, we’ve been designing and manufacturing personalised products that bring creative ideas to life for a range of businesses. From dolls and dollhouses to figurines, skipping ropes, tents, and abacuses, we love turning unique visions into reality through creating bespoke items that delight our clients and their customers alike. Check out some of our favourite projects below, and if you would like to bring your own ideas to life through a bespoke collaboration, please contact us at TalkToUs@lankakade.co.uk.

Lanka Kade x St Albans Museums: Bringing Roman Heritage to Life for Young Learners

We’re excited to announce our partnership with St Albans Museums, launching a bespoke collection that brings the Roman heritage in the museum to life in a new and exciting way for children.

Our designer thoughtfully crafted a range of toys that reflect the Verulamium museum’s spirit and heritage, and thus created pieces that celebrate its history and character.

Helen, our designer shared that she was “immediately drawn to this project” through immersing herself “in the history of Roman Britain to create pieces that would engage young minds and inspire learning”. Collaborating with St Albans Museums’ Commercial Services Manager, Eleanor, Helen merged historical detail with playful creativity, ensuring that each toy celebrates the museum's legacy.

Our expertise extends from the initial design process to ethical manufacturing in Sri Lanka, as each piece aligns with high standards of quality, safety, and historical authenticity. We’re proud to have collaborated on this collection that celebrates St Albans Museums’ dedication to preserving history and invites families to explore Roman heritage in a new and engaging way.

The collection includes:

  • Wooden Characters: A Centurion, an Archaeologist, and the iconic Boudica. The centurion highlights the museum’s dedication to the preservation of Roman heritage. While, the archaeologist honours individuals who unearthed these stories, drawing inspiration from influential figures who shaped the depiction of the region’s history. Boudica, an ancient British queen, is depicted with attention to detail: her attire and appearance are drawn from historical records, with both her brooch and shield designs being inspired by artifacts in the museum.
  • Spinning Tops: Each spinning top is based off mosaics from the museum. One design draws inspiration from the historic sea god mosaic, a relic of a Roman townhouse in Verulamium (175-200CE), while the other design showcases a dog brooch.
  • Eight-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: This puzzle is based off the famous Sea God mosaic, also from Verulamium. It serves as both a fun activity and a tribute to a significant artifact from the museum.
  • Horse and Chariot Push-Along Toy: This push-along combines the museum’s emphasis on historical education and Roman heritage with a striking, interactive piece for children.
  • Roman Coin Game: Modelled on the ancient game “Mulinello Quadripo,” this set is inspired by the Sandridge hoard, one of the largest Roman coin hoards discovered in the UK. The coins in the game incorporate designs referencing this remarkable find.

Visit St Albans Museum to see and shop this range!

Lanka Kade x Beamish Museum: Bringing Historical Transport into Motion for Visitors

We’re thrilled to announce our collaboration with Beamish Museum, the living museum of the north, a place that celebrates the rich history of the north east of England from the 19th century onward.

A key part of the museum is the evolution of English transport, brought to life through beautifully restored vehicles. Visitors can hop aboard treasures like the Rotherham 220 bus and the Sheffield 264 tram, both offering a nostalgic glimpse into the past.

The Rotherham 220 (Daimler CVG6), fresh from a major restoration, returned to service this march. It now proudly takes visitors around Beamish’s vibrant 1950s town.

The Sheffield 264 tram has also been lovingly restored to its original open-balcony design, delighting visitors with its classic charm.

Inspired by these iconic vehicles, our talented designer worked closely with Beamish to create bespoke wooden toys of both the Rotherham 220 and the Sheffield 264 tram that capture their unique character, aesthetics and history. As the museums commercial manager, Rachael, stated: “Lanka Kade has brought transport fleets to life through bespoke toys”, giving visitors a tangible way to remember their experience.

These toys go beyond keepsakes—they’re interactive, with moving wheels to spark joy and imagination for little ones. They’re the perfect blend of fun and function, encouraging motor skills and movement while serving as cherished mementos of a Beamish Museum visit.

We’ve loved working with Beamish Museum on this project, and we’re excited about what’s to come. As Commercial Manager, Rachael Marsden shared, “this is just the start of the journey with Lanka Kade, and we’re looking forward to developing more creative products together.”

Plan your visit to Beamish Museum to explore this collection and relive transport history!

Lanka Kade x SS Great Britain: Connecting Young Learners to the Legacy of the Seas

We are delighted to unveil our partnership with SS Great Britain, the iconic museum and legendary former steamship. Designed by the engineering genius Isambard Kingdom Brunel, SS Great Britain revolutionised maritime technology and changed the course of history when it launched in 1843.

Today, the museum ship is much more than a historical marvel- it’s a dedicated educational charity with a mission to preserve the legacy of Brunel, SS Great Britain itself, and inspire future engineers and entrepreneurs.

It has been a pleasure to partner with SS Great Britain and our talented designer worked closely with their team to craft a collection of products that bring the ship’s incredible story and its authors to life. Each piece is steeped in history, bursting with personality, and made to encourage learning through play.

The collection includes:

  • Isambard Kingdom Brunel: As the mastermind behind SS Great Britain, Brunel was an essential piece in this collection. We meticulously recreated him with his signature stovepipe hat, iconic sideburns, and plans for the ship tucked under his arm.
  • Frances Duberly: A writer and journalist, Duberly sailed aboard SS Great Britain to explore science and the natural world—despite societal expectations of the time. Her character celebrates her courage and the pioneering women like her.
  • Victorian Seaman: Decked out in a traditional sailor outfit with brass buttons and a waterproof hat, this wooden seaman embodies the spirit and authenticity of Victorian maritime life.
  • Sykes the monkey: Skyes is a Vervet monkey, animals like him often joined the ship during its ports in South Africa.
  • Rat: A nod to the inevitable stowaways of Victorian ships, our rat design is based off those that were found aboard vessels like SS Great Britain.
  • Izzy the cat: Izzy was a beloved feline who made the ship her home for many years. This toy honours Izzy’s loyalty and her iconic place in the ship’s history.
  • Spinning tops: Inspired by the SS Great Britain’s 180 signalling flags, we’ve created spinning tops showcasing the flags of two key maritime messages. One signals “I require assistance” and the other, “I require a tug”.

We are proud of this collection, and the SS Great Britain team is equally pleased with the product. Retail Manager, Eleanor Ward praised Lanka Kade for their support, stating that the company "helped us tell stories... that are always at our forefront," adding that "the characters are very popular." She also commended the collaboration, noting that "the design process was smooth and easy."

These toys are not only a tribute to the ship’s rich history but alike to the museum’s dedication to education, they are also fantastic tools for early year learning, play and storytelling.

This collection is now available on SS Great Britain’s website!