Meet the Elves of Hazel Village!
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Behind-The-Scenes
Have you ever wondered who might be behind the scenes here at Hazel Village? Read on to find out! 🌱✨
Jane is Hazel Village’s founder and Head Designer. The Village is Jane’s vision: she dreams up all of the animals, and along with Sara she shares the work of designing and illustrating our products. Jane started Hazel Village in 2010, and her favorite animal is Gwendolyn Raccoon. Naturally, her first storybook The Gifts of the Year is all about Gwendolyn!
Joslyn is our Director of Operations. Like any small business, there are countless complexities involved in the running of Hazel Village, and Joslyn keeps everything shipshape! She joined the team in August of 2020 and her favorite animal is Ella Toad.
Raquel is our Director of Marketing. She started out in November of 2016 as a salesperson for the holiday markets, and has done almost every Village job at some point over the past 8 years! Raquel's favorite friend is Oliver Mouse.
Raquel's collection
Akira is our Director of Product. He manages the development of our products with our ethical manufacturing partnerships in Nepal, Peru, Cambodia, Colombia, and India. Akira joined the team in fall of 2024, and his favorite Village friend is Max Raccoon!
Alba is part of our local seamstress team, sewing any and all doll clothing that we make right here in Brooklyn. She's been with the Village since way back in February 2015! Alba's favorite animal friend is Arthur Lamb.
Claudia is our Local Production Manager. When she's not hard at work sewing upcoming collections along with Alba, Claudia is working with Jane and Sara's designs to create samples for new doll clothing. She joined the team in July of 2021. Claudia's favorite animal is Tillie Goose!
C.C. is our Workshop Manager. She does too many important odd jobs to count! She joined the team in August of 2016, and her favorite friend is Gaspard Duck.
Shaquya is our Workshop Assistant. She helps C.C. with many tasks, and can often be found dressing dolls! Shaquya joined the Village in 2016, and her favorite Village friend is Charlie.
Zack is our Logistics Manager. He keeps our order fulfillment running smoothly and our inventory carefully organized. He also often assists our local seamstresses with production here in the workshop, by cutting fabric and hand sewing buttons. Zack started working at the Village in the summer of 2019. His favorite Villagers are Lucas Rabbit and Kit Skunk!
Zack's collection
Val is our second-in-command packing elf, as well as our Monogram Manager. When she's not wrapping up your woodland friends for their journey home, she can be found embroidering doll after doll with hand-stitched fancy single-letter monograms. Fun fact: Zack and Val have been friends since they were in high school! Val joined our team in September 2020, and her favorite Villager is Davey Owl.
Val's collection
Maddy is our Creative Content Manager. She shoots and edits our photography and videos (psst- follow us on TikTok @hazelvillage!) Maddy has been working here since fall 2019, and her favorite animal friend is Penelope Rabbit.
Maddy's collection
Lillie is our Copywriter and Marketing Associate. She makes all our blog posts (including this one – hi!), writes the descriptions for our products, and helps the marketing team with lots of logistics. Lillie joined the Village in September of 2020, and her favorite friend is Rupert Bison.
Lillie's collection
Sara is our Technical Designer. She works alongside Jane on design and illustration for our collections. Sara joined the Village in 2022, and her favorite animal friend is Lucy Owl. You can read our Jan ‘23 interview with Sara here.
Jess is the third member of our packing elf team. She has been working at the Village seasonally since 2021, and joined our team full-time in 2024. Jess's favorite friend is Lewis Toad, though she also really loves Augustus Wild Boar!
Leesa is one half of our customer service team! If you send us an email, call the store phone, or visit our Meadow Shop, either Leesa or Mery will be the cheerful elf who assists you. Leesa first worked at Hazel Village in 2023 as a holiday market elf, but joined our workshop team full time for customer service in fall of 2024. Leesa's favorite Village animal is Flora Fox!
Mery is the other half of our wonderful customer service duo. She has worked for Hazel Village seasonally since 2019, and joined our workshop team full time in fall of 2024. Mery's favorite Village friend often changes, but today it is Nicholas Bear Cub!
Mery's collection
Thank you for reading, friends! We hope you've enjoyed learning a little bit more about the human elves of Hazel Village. As the animals would say, "Industry and good cheer, every day and every year!"
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Feel free to email us with any questions at hello@hazelvillage.com!