Journal

Hey there! I am Mailys, the heart behind Loraia.

In a world where everything feels fast - fast fashion, fast toys, fast trends - I wanted to build something slower. Something thoughtful, meaningful, and lasting through years of play.

Loraia was born out of a desire to create pieces that nurture children’s growth while blending seamlessly into elegant homes. I wanted to design a toy that wasn’t just safe, but also beautiful: one parents would feel proud to have in their living room, not hidden away in a corner.

Every Loraia soft play set is made with care, using non-toxic, high-quality materials, and designed to support little ones from their earliest milestones: crawling, climbing, standing, and growing with confidence. Our goal is to create a truly special sets that are safe, durable, and loved for years.

We are a small, woman-owned brand, fully self-funded, and still learning every day. Launching Loraia has been one of the most challenging and rewarding adventures of my life- and I’m endlessly grateful for the community of kind families who believe in what we’re building.

Loraia is, at its heart, a love letter to childhood: to the fun, joyful moments of discovery and connection.

To the parents who care deeply about what touches their child’s skin. To the homes that value simplicity, beauty, and warmth.

Thank you for being part of this journey, and for choosing something made with care, intention, and love.

With all my gratitude,

Mailys Moiroud

Founder & CEO

March 2024

The Idea

Loraia was born at a turning point in my life. After years working as a pediatric dentist, chronic pain and burnout forced me to step back and reimagine my path. Around that time, I was searching for a foam play set for my friend’s children: something safe, beautiful, and high-quality, but couldn’t find one that truly met those standards. That moment sparked an idea: what if I created it myself? What began as a small dream soon became Loraia, a brand that blends my love for interior design with my passion for children’s well-being.

April-August 2024

Research & Samples

Since I had no background in marketing, sales, or social media, I immersed myself in learning everything from the ground up: from analyzing market data, reaching out to factories, ordering fabric samples, to studying foam density, safety certifications, and vegan leather quality. I initially hoped to produce locally and researched several U.S. factories, but soon learned that almost all sets are manufactured abroad. Each step was a mix of excitement and overwhelm, but slowly, piece by piece, I started to understand what truly makes a product safe, durable, and beautiful.

August 2024

Final Design

I chose our set to be made from EPE foam that is free from chemicals, and stays firm and supportive, so your child can climb without the blocks collapsing. The hypoallergenic PU vegan leather cover is water- and stain-resistant, and its treatment is completely non-toxic. I also designed top Velcro wings to keep each block securely connected, preventing gaps and ensuring safe play, and opted for larger block sizes so the set truly grows with your child. After months of sampling, I selected the most premium factory in Chuzhou, China, one that pays fair wages, respects proper work hours and holidays for its workers, and shares our commitment to high attention to detail and quality materials.

November 2024

The Launch

Since I’m building this brand entirely on my own, with no background in business or marketing, I needed a platform that could help me bring this dream to life. That’s why I chose Amazon: they handle the shipping, logistics, storage, and customer service, allowing me to focus on the rest. Of course, they take a significant percentage (a story for another time!), but for a one-woman project, it was the only realistic way to start.

Launching Loraia has been a huge personal investment: financially, emotionally, and creatively. I couldn’t afford to mass-produce or launch multiple colors at once, but I believed that starting small, with quality and integrity, was the right path.