Designer Toys 101

Whether you're already a collector, an aspiring designer, or just want to know what the heck is up with all the designer vinyl toys that are popular right now, the new book I Am Plastic: The Designer Toy Explosion is definitely worth a look.

Edited by Paul Budnitz (the guy behind Kid Robot), it includes an informative introduction on the history of designer toys and their place in art and culture, and interviews with super freakin' sweet artists such as Dalek, Pete Fowler, Tado, and many more. The bulk of the book is photos of and information about hundreds and hundreds of amazing, unique toys.

If you don't already collect designer vinyl, this book will make you want to. No one can resist the appeal of these colorful, sometimes weird but always lovably unique characters. People often ask about our Smorkin' Labbits (by designer Kozik), "What do they do?" The answer to this question is this: they add a clever, quirky, and very cool piece of art to your life and your home.

-Elizabeth