Through a collaborative project, Jasper’s favourite toy makers have created a brand new product that will benefit Peruvian women, threatened spectacled bears and the Friends of Jasper National Park.
They’re called Lil’ Rockies.
Much like Mountains and Monsters’ token plush pillows, Lil’ Rockies are mountains with dopey eyes, wispy snowcapped hair-dos and sly smiles, but rather than being stuffed, they’re hand-felted.
But the biggest difference, other than being pocket-sized and felted, is that these mountains didn’t come from the sewing machine of Elliott Ingles and Megan Vicente. Rather, they came from the craft tables of Peruvian women working with the Spectacled Bear Conservation Society (SBC).
SBC is a Canadian not for profit that, through scientific research and education, works to ensure the conservation of South America’s only species of bear in northern Peru.
The idea for the collaboration came from Sue Cesco at the Friends of Jasper National Park.
“It always goes back to the Friends,” said Ingles, who credits the organization—especially Cesco and Heather Aussant—for pushing him and Vicente to always do more with Mountains and Monsters.
Cesco sourced the conservation society’s felted ornaments for the Friends store and later discovered that it’s open to partnerships. So, she suggested the idea of a collaboration to Ingles and Vicente.
Admittedly they were hesitant at first. But, eventually, they decided to give it a shot. So Ingles quickly sketched a picture of the signature Mountains and Monsters character and sent it off.
“I think the funniest story is they didn’t really get it,” said Ingles of the Peruvian artisans. “They didn’t understand why the mountains would have faces. So, the lady that we were liaising with said it was a challenge for them.”
That confusion showed in the first prototype—the hair was off, the eyes were too small and it just didn’t look quite right.
“They took it very literally. They took the image and made it identical to what I drew.”
Ingles admitted that his drawing was likely part of the problem, because after he sent a few more images and photos, the next prototype was nearly bang on.
So, they dived right in, ordering 250 pocket-sized mountains.
The box came with each mountain individually wrapped, which, although slightly tedious, gave Ingles and Vicente an excuse to go through each and every one, checking out their individual personalities.
Just like their own mountains, each is different. Some are smiling, some frowning and others look sly. There are also variations in their shapes, with some short and stout and others tall and lean.
“I kind of assumed that they would all end up looking sort of the same, but I’m just so glad they look so different.
“We never thought we’d go this way and have other people make our stuff, but it just seems like the best fit, a way for us to still feel good about our product,” said Ingles, noting that by collaborating with the society, not only do the women receive fair wages, but the profits go toward resource conservation and the protection of a threatened species.
“The main purpose is just to collaborate with people and to be able to put back into a country that’s struggling with unemployment. That’s sort of what we’ve always been about—that’s why we’ve always sold to Friends because the money goes back into things that we believe in.”
Locally, Lil’ Rockies will also bring benefits. The proceeds from the mountains sold at the Friends store will go toward the organization’s trail projects in Jasper National Park. Ingles hinted that there’s a specific project that Friends has in mind, but said he couldn’t yet divulge the details. (Check back with the Fitzhugh in coming weeks for the specifics.)
Lil’ Rockies go on sale this weekend.
As well as being cool toys, Ingles and Vicente said they hope they will become travel companions for folks who go out and enjoy the park.
“It’s kind of a pocket buddy to take on an adventure with you,” said Ingles, who, along with Vicente, has taken a mountain pillow as far as Thailand.
“There are a few people in Hinton that take their little mountains around and take pictures and share them with us. So we’re sort of hoping more people will share their pictures.
“I’d love to see one on the North Boundary or something like that—and not just in Jasper, but all over.”
To share photos with Mountains and Monsters, use the hashtag #mountainsandmonsters on Instagram.
Nicole Veerman
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