Making Ori: Chapter Two

The Bumpy Beginning

Ah, the thrill of seeing your creation come to life for the very first time.

The photos below capture something truly special—Ori’s very first physical sample, fresh from our plush maker’s workshop. It was a surreal moment… like meeting someone you’ve only ever seen in your dreams. And while we were buzzing with excitement, it was clear: our little gnome friend wasn’t quite there yet.

You’ll notice a few things straight away. Ori didn’t have embroidery yet—his eyes were missing that signature twinkle we’d worked so hard to perfect. The sample used a placeholder fabric for the skin, which ended up being slightly different from our intended tone—so we refined it in the next version. His coat, leggings, and shoes were also sporting colours that didn’t quite match the palette we’d envisioned. Honestly, he looked like he’d been getting dressed in the dark. Endearing? Absolutely. Final version? Not quite.

Then came the curious part: the back of his head was completely bald. No white hair! It was as if Ori had forgotten to turn around when the hair was being sewn on. His beard, too, had slipped a little too far under his chin—more goatee than the full, fluffy beard we had imagined.

Still, even in this early stage, we saw potential. This wasn’t a failure—it was a blueprint. A conversation starter. A test run. It gave us something to react to, refine, and build from. And let’s be honest—it was also kind of adorable in its imperfection.

One of our favourite discoveries, though, came from a happy accident.

Originally, we’d planned for Ori to wear darker, moodier tones. But since this sample was only meant as a rough concept to align on structure, our plush maker grabbed whatever fabric was on hand… and wouldn’t you know it? They picked a brighter, more vivid purple. And we absolutely fell in love. That accidental colour change? It stuck. And it’s now the very same hue you see in the final Ori on our preorder page.

With feedback shared and tweaks made, the next version we received was a much more polished Ori. The colours were corrected, the back of the head was no longer a mystery, the beard found its rightful place, and most importantly—the embroidery was added. Suddenly, Ori had personality. Expression. Life.

That second sample became the bridge between rough concept and final plush. Every step of the way, we worked hand-in-hand with our plush maker—offering feedback, but also staying open to their insights and ideas. It was a true collaboration, and that’s something we’re genuinely proud of. Ori wasn’t just designed—he was crafted together.

This was just the first of a few samples on our journey. And while Ori might’ve started out a little wobbly and wide-eyed (or, in this case, eye-less), every version brought us closer to the plushy perfection you see today.

We can’t wait to show you what came next.