The Creative Beginnings of Charlie Bears: Nurturing Imagination from a Young Age

When you step into a world of Charlie Bears, you're stepping into a world where every bear has a story, a personality and a touch of magic. But where did this all begin? In the first part of our ten-part series, based on an interview with Charlie, we look back at the early years of Charlie, the founder of Charlie Bears, to understand the roots of her passion for creativity and storytelling.

Charlie’s journey started with a childhood filled with imagination and wonder. Growing up in a family where creativity was valued over material wealth, she found joy in the little things. Her parents, also creative individuals, encouraged her and her siblings to explore the arts, giving them endless opportunities to be inventive. As Charlie puts it:

“We didn’t have lots of money when we were little, but I never felt that was important. We were really lucky to have parents who could find wonder in just about everything we did, whether it was Blue Bell picking, collecting leaves, or creating collages. They always kept us entertained like that.”

For Charlie, these experiences laid a foundation that would later shape her career. Her love for creativity extended to anything artistic—whether it was reading books, painting, or daydreaming. Even as a young girl, she was fascinated by how books could transport her to magical worlds. One of her favorites was Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. The whimsy, the creativity, and the attention to detail in the story captivated her.

“I just love people that have really creative imaginations. When you can sit and read a book and get lost in someone else’s world, you know they’ve got such a skill for doing this. I’m a real detail girl, so I love the books ‘cause you always get a little bit of extra detail as opposed to the movies.”

Charlie’s early life was a mosaic of influences that fueled her creativity. Her parents encouraged her to embrace her quirks and to explore her interests without pressure. This support allowed her to try different creative outlets. From a young age, she loved ballet and the expressive freedom it gave her. She would go on to study ballet intensely, but her true calling was yet to be discovered.

Looking back on those formative years, Charlie believes that her family’s creativity and resourcefulness taught her the value of nurturing one’s passions. It wasn’t about following a traditional path but about finding joy and inspiration in unexpected places—a philosophy that would eventually inspire her to create Charlie Bears. As she reflects:

“I was always the creative little butterfly that couldn’t sit still. I’d have imagined 20 different things before breakfast and would try to get all 20 done before I rested my head on the pillow at night.”

This spirit of curiosity, exploration, and love for all things whimsical is what would later define the world of Charlie Bears. With each bear she designed, Charlie brought that same sense of wonder and playfulness that her parents had instilled in her.

Stay tuned for our next post, where we’ll dive into Charlie’s early dreams of becoming a ballet dancer and how life’s unexpected turns would eventually lead her toward a career in teddy bear design.

You can find the podcast in its entirety on Spotify.