(Video Transcription below for your convenience)
"Once upon a time, there was a little giraffe who was born in Paris, in 1961, Saint Sophie's Day. It was Msieur Rampeau who had the idea to create a giraffe.
It all begins in Malasia, in the forest of Lithia, with the daily harvest of the sap, the latex. It is then shipped to France, Rumilly, to be transformed.
When it reaches Rumilly, the latex is checked and tested.
First Secret – The Plaster Molds: To process the latex with vulcanization, plaster molds are needed. Each giraffe is moulded in a two-part plaster mold – one for the front, and one for the back of the giraffe. Each mold includes ten casts, so the giraffes are made ten by ten.
Second Secret – The Vulcanization Roto Molding: With the planetary motion, the latex poured in the liquid state in each cast is evenly dispersed within the mold. As the mold rotates, the vulcanization is carried out by the heat of the oven, causing the latex to absorb the humidity from the plaster.
The giraffes are then removed from the mold in a solid state. The latex is a natural and living material. It takes several weeks of maturing for the blanks to mature. The giraffes are then taken to a workshop designed especially for the finishing touches.
Grinding: with a fabric disk rotating at high speed, the operator trims the excess rubber, due to the parting of the mold.
The Squeaking Device: This step consists of installing the squeaking device. The squeaker is manually inserted and glued with latex so as to secure it within the body of the giraffe.
Coloring: The paint used is made of latex colored with food pigments. Baby can chew Sophie the Giraffe safely. Each giraffe is hand-painted, and therefore unique.
The Laser Marking: A unique number is etched on the leg of each giraffe.
Quality Control: Once the project is completed, a strict quality control follows to make sure that the production meets Vulli quality requirements as well as the safety standards in each country.
Packing: All that is left is to pack them and ship worldwide.
Why Such a Success? Because it is the first baby toy to stimulate all five senses.
Sight: with her contrasting spots that attract the eye.
Touch: which reminds the baby of mother's skin.
Taste: made of 100% natural rubber and food paint, as it is completely safe for the baby to chew.
Hearing: the squeaker keeps Baby amused and stimulates hearing.
Size: The size of 18 centimeters is perfect for Baby's small hands to grip.
Celebrity Babies Love Sophie: With all her qualities, Sophie the Giraffe is also the joy of celebrity babies (Allison Hannigan, Busy Phillips, Eric Palladino, Nicole Richie, Sandra Bullock, Marissa Coughlan, Madonna, Liev Schrieber and Naomi Watts, Isla Fisher, Sophie Coppola.)
Since 1961, Sophie the giraffe is unbeatable. And her story continues …
