Our Story

Hi, I’m Alisha Gandhi. I’m from India and have been living in Dubai for 10 years. I’m a proud mum of two and also a Montessori qualified educator.

I know through my experience of teaching at several Montessori schools in Dubai and India, that the most critical time for a child’s development is within the first few years of life. A child’s mind is expanding just by looking at his/her environment and taking in the surroundings. Hence, the appropriate kinds of toys can help develop skills of problem solving, fine and gross motor control as well as creativity and imagination.

But.. (and here’s the funny part) when I became a parent, I found that my children’s playroom was quickly becoming an over-cluttered, over-stimulating environment for them. There was less open-ended play taking place and more of a war-zone, toys-all-over-the-place situation happening (do you feel my pain?).

How did that happen? I started asking myself all these questions! Were there too many toys - each for a specific use which were now piling up as they were no longer age appropriate? How did we manage to create such a clutter but at the same time, how can I possibly throw out all these toys when they have been used for such a short time? Do I need to also create a simpler way to organize all my children’s belongings that would allow them to independently tidy up? I can’t keep tidying up after them!

This exact over-whelming feeling led to the creation of Areya.

Areya aims to provide a diverse range of handmade, wooden furniture that enrich the lives of our little ones (and make our lives as mums just a little bit easier too!)

Our products are designed to encourage motor and cognitive development, creativity and concentration but also help to foster independence and can be used by children of many ages. What’s more? They’re beautiful, they’re long lasting and can be used by adults as well!

Being a parent, we understand the importance of safety and quality when it comes to the things our children interact with. This is why safety and durability has been key to our design.

Each product from our Areya range is hand-made, sustainable and ethically sourced. They are made from natural materials and we ensure that every piece has been handcrafted with love and joy.

We hope your little ones and you enjoy using it as much as we have enjoyed creating it!