Design that comes from the heart always carries something more with it – a sense of warmth, playfulness and presence. Such are the products of Zanda Priedīte, a Latvian artist and creator who has lived and created in Ljubljana for over a decade. Her handmade dolls and animal portraits under the Luba brand are not just toys, but tiny, personified stories that come to life in children's rooms.
Zanda comes from the world of theatre – she took her first steps as a dancer, actress and performer. She studied physical theatre in Denmark and Spain, and graduated in cultural management in Riga. She has participated in numerous artistic projects, taught theatre skills, led workshops and performed both on stage and in the streets.
Her creative path began to change with her first motherhood. At that time, she began to develop her own artistic expression in textiles – sewing, knitting, illustrating and designing soft characters. Initially under the name Animals of Ljubljana, she created a collection of imaginative hand-sewn animals that were full of character and life. In 2023, she revamped the brand and renamed it Luba, which means “beloved” in Latvian, while maintaining the sense of warmth and intimacy that her work has always expressed.
Each of her dolls is handmade – Zanda sews, cuts, stuffs, sometimes knits clothes for them (her Latvian friend Inita occasionally helps her), and she often plays with them before they go to their new homes. She loves to give them names, characters, observe them and listen to how they “talk”. Each piece is unique, created slowly and with attention. In addition to toys, she also creates animal portraits – textile illustrations, which are often used as decoration in children’s rooms.
She draws inspiration for her work from nature, theatre, everyday moments and memories. Her first creative role model was Donna Wilson, a British designer who impressed her with her ability to connect different art forms into a holistic story. Although their styles differ, Zanda also creates a world where functionality is intertwined with fantasy, and textiles become carriers of emotions.
Despite not having formal training in textiles, she has developed an extraordinary sensitivity to materials, colors, and shapes over the years. She believes in the power of handmade objects – how they quietly but persistently change the world around us. “Every time someone orders my animal, my heart sings,” she says. And while she still sometimes feels a little embarrassed when strangers ask her what she does – “I sew toys,” she says shyly – it is actually a profession that carries an extraordinary beauty within it.
You can also find Zanda and her work here – in our shop we offer a selection of her soft dolls and gently illustrated animal portraits for the youngest. We are proud to be able to support an artist whose work is full of sincerity, warmth and love.
You can get our Luba products here.