About us

My name is Lara, and I’m a 15-year-old entrepreneur who created a matcha plushie brand during one of the most stressful years of my life, my GCSE year. I’ve always been someone who overthinks everything and feels things very deeply. School, exams, expectations, friendships… it all piles up, and sometimes it can feel overwhelming. I wanted to create something small, soft, and comforting that could make life feel a little less heavy.

For a long time, I struggled with finding the “perfect” way to calm down. Sometimes I’d get panic attacks or feel suddenly overwhelmed, and nothing really helped in the moment. One day, during a revision break, I doodled a little cup of matcha with a cute smile. It instantly made me feel lighter. Something about the calm colour, the gentle expression, and the idea of a tiny friend supporting you made me feel safe. That drawing grew into my first ever plush idea.

The more I sketched, the more I realised how badly I wanted something like this for myself. Something cute, soft, comforting, and calming. Then I thought: if this helps me, maybe it could help other people too. That was the moment my brand was born. I wanted to make plush toys that don’t just look adorable, but actually make people feel a little better on difficult days. Plushies that make you smile, slow down, breathe, and feel supported, even when life gets intense.

Each Matcha Mate is designed with a personality inspired by the feelings we all experience — love, happiness and a little bit of chaos. They are made to feel like tiny companions you can keep on your desk, your bed, your bag, or your shelf. They’re here to remind you that you’re not alone, that it’s okay to take a break, and that comfort can be small but powerful.

I started this business as a way to help myself, but it grew into something much bigger, a community of people who also love gentle, comforting things. My goal is simple: to spread a little calm and a little happiness, one matcha plush at a time. Thank you for being part of this journey. I hope my plushies make you smile the way creating them made me smile.