How to Get Started With a Custom Plush Order at Kedonia

Most brands and creators who want to make a custom plush toy spend too long trying to figure out how to begin. They assume the process requires a finished design file, a polished illustration brief, or prior manufacturing experience before they can get a response from a manufacturer. At Kedonia, none of that is true.

The starting point is simple: try the AI tool, see your concept as a plush, and complete the lead form. From there, a dedicated Kedonia ambassador takes over and walks you through every stage of the process from design confirmation to delivery.

This guide explains exactly how to get started, what to prepare, what happens after you submit, and how to give yourself the best chance of a fast, accurate first sample.

Start at kedonia.com/ai.

WHY KEDONIA STARTS WITH THE AI TOOL, NOT A WRITTEN BRIEF

Most manufacturers begin the process with a lengthy written brief, a quote request form, or a back-and-forth email chain before anything visual is produced. This approach is slow, creates room for misinterpretation, and delays the moment when you can actually see what your product might look like.

Kedonia inverts this. The first step is generating a visual plush concept from your design, not writing a description of it. This matters for several reasons.

A visual reference anchors the entire conversation. When both you and the Kedonia team are looking at a realistic plush representation of your design from the first interaction, the briefing process is faster and the first physical sample is more likely to match your intent. You are not describing something abstract and hoping it translates correctly. You are both looking at the same image.

It eliminates the barrier of needing a finished design. You do not need a professional illustration or a technical design file to get started. A rough sketch, a phone doodle, or a reference image is enough. The AI tool does the translation from rough concept to realistic plush visual.

And it costs nothing. Generating a plush concept at kedonia.com/ai is free, requires no account, and carries no commitment. You can see what your idea looks like as a plush toy in under two minutes before deciding whether you want to move forward.

STEP 1: UPLOAD YOUR DESIGN TO THE AI TOOL

Go to kedonia.com/ai and upload any image that represents your concept. This can be a hand-drawn sketch photographed on your phone, a rough digital doodle, a reference image of a similar character or object, or a more developed digital illustration if you have one.

The AI tool analyses your input and generates a realistic plush concept in under two minutes. The output shows your design in plush form with the textures, proportions, and material qualities of a real manufactured toy.

A few tips for getting the best output from the tool.

Upload a clear image with defined outlines rather than a very faint sketch where lines are hard to distinguish. A front-facing view of your character gives the most useful starting result. Include the original sketch and any additional angle references in your lead form submission alongside the AI concept, because more angles give the manufacturer more to work from when creating the paper pattern.

Colour in your sketch helps the AI reflect the intended palette, but a black and white line drawing also produces a useful structural concept. If your design has a specific colour requirement, you will confirm the precise Pantone, HEX, or CMYK codes when you complete the lead form.

You can generate multiple concepts before deciding which direction to move forward with. Exploring a few variations at this stage costs nothing and helps you arrive at the lead form submission with more confidence in the direction you are choosing.

STEP 2: COMPLETE THE LEAD FORM

Once you have an AI-generated concept you want to take forward, complete the lead form on the Kedonia website. This is where you provide the information your Kedonia ambassador needs to confirm dimensions, provide accurate pricing, and begin the sampling process.

Here is what to include and why each element matters.

Your AI Concept and Original Design References

Attach the AI-generated concept image and your original sketch or reference material. Include as many angles as you have available. Front, back, side, and close-up references all reduce the interpretive gap at the pattern-making stage. The more visual information you provide, the fewer assumptions the pattern-maker needs to make, and the more accurate your first sample will be.

Finished Size

Specify the intended finished size of your plush in centimetres or inches. Include the overall height and width, along with measurements for individual features such as ears, arms, and legs if these are distinctive to your design.

Size is the single biggest driver of material and labour cost. Providing it upfront allows your ambassador to give you accurate pricing rather than a range wide enough to be effectively useless.

Colour References

Provide precise colour codes rather than colour names. Pantone codes, HEX values, RGB values, and CMYK values all work. General colour descriptions do not. A manufacturer receiving a reference to "warm yellow" or "dusty pink" has to interpret those descriptions, and interpretation introduces the risk of mismatch. A Pantone or HEX code leaves no room for interpretation.

Fabric Preference

If you have a preference for a specific fabric type, state it. Minky, velboa, anti-pill fleece, and sherpa each have different softness, pile length, durability, and cost characteristics. If you are not sure which fabric is right for your design, describe the feel you are aiming for and your Kedonia ambassador will recommend the most appropriate option.

For a detailed comparison of fabric types and their properties, see kedonia.com/collection/from-fabric-to-finish-how-soft-toys-are-made.

Surface Detailing

Specify whether you want embroidery or printed fabric for facial expressions, patterns, and surface details, and provide exact thread colours for stitching and accents. Avoid vague instructions like "embroidered face." Specify the colour codes, the size, and the placement of each embroidered element.

Avoid requesting ultra-thin elements, sharp points, or tiny accessories smaller than one centimetre. These are difficult to sew accurately at scale, frequently fail quality checks, and can create safety compliance complications for products intended for children.

Order Quantity

State your intended order quantity for the first run. Kedonia's standard minimum order quantity is 500 pieces per design. Pricing scales with volume, with discounts of up to 37 percent available at 20,000 units.

If you are interested in understanding how unit cost changes across different quantity tiers, say so. Your ambassador can walk you through the pricing at each level so you can make an informed decision about your first order size.

Target Age Grading and Safety Requirements

If your product is intended for children, specify the target age grading, for example 3+ or 0 to 3 years, in your lead form. This determines the applicable safety standards from the outset and affects decisions about small parts, materials, and compliance testing. Products sold in the United States need to meet ASTM F963. Products sold in Europe require EN71 compliance and CE marking.

For a full guide to IP protection and safety compliance for custom plush, see kedonia.com/collection/protect-your-intellectual-property-and-designs-a-comprehensive-guide-for-creators-and-businesses.

Packaging Requirements

Specify your packaging preferences at submission stage. Individual polybags, custom retail boxes, hang tags, stickers, and eco-friendly options are all available. Do not leave packaging undefined until production is complete. Packaging has its own lead time that runs in parallel to manufacturing, and leaving it until the end is the most common cause of avoidable delays on otherwise completed orders.

Timeline and Delivery Destination

State your required delivery date and your destination country and city. If you have a hard deadline tied to a product launch, a retail window, or a campaign, communicate this clearly so your ambassador can confirm whether your timeline is achievable given your design and order specifics.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU SUBMIT

Once your lead form is submitted, your dedicated Kedonia ambassador reviews your design and specifications. The ambassador confirms dimensions and comes back with any clarifying questions within three days.

From Day 1 of submission, your first-look physical sample is presented within five days. This is a fully finished prototype of your plush toy, sewn, stuffed, and detailed to your specifications.

Two rounds of refinement are included if you have feedback or want adjustments. After refinements are completed, the polished, production-ready final sample is delivered for your formal approval.

Once you approve the sample, full-scale mass production begins. Production is completed and products are ready to ship within 30 days of sample confirmation. You receive full tracking details and dedicated ambassador support until your plushies arrive.

For a complete breakdown of each milestone in the 30-day process, see kedonia.com/collection/custom-plush-manufacturing-process-from-sketch-to-shipment.

WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN GETTING STARTED

Do not submit design assets you do not own or have full legal rights to use. Do not use vague colour names. Do not request design changes after the final sample is approved. Do not wait until after production to think about packaging requirements. And do not assume all fabrics behave the same. Stretch, shine, and pile direction can significantly change the final appearance and feel of your plush. If you are unsure, request fabric swatches before production begins.

Share your target unit cost early. If you have a budget constraint, communicate it at the start rather than after receiving a quote. Your ambassador can optimise materials and construction to fit your budget, but only if they know what that budget is.

GET STARTED TODAY

The starting point is free and takes under two minutes. Upload your sketch or concept at kedonia.com/ai, generate a realistic plush concept, and then complete the lead form to begin your 30-day journey from design to delivery.

For full process and pricing details, visit kedonia.com/process-and-pricing. For direct enquiries, contact hello@kedonia.com.