History 1994 - 1999

In 1994 Gill Pittar hand-knits a double-ended wool doll for her New Zealand-made shop in Auckland, and the Milly, Molly concept is born. There is a strong undercurrent of ill feeling in New Zealand at this time between the Maori and Europeans over land claims and settlements. The Milly, Molly product is found to have market appeal. With the doll as a primary tool, Gill sets out to promote tolerance, communication, understanding and love between people in New Zealand, and around the world.

Milly, Molly–the Reconciliation Doll for World Peace and Harmony–is conceived. Milly (dark) and Molly (fair) carry the message, "We may look different but we feel the same." All people, irrespective of race, creed or colour, share the same feelings and emotions of love, pain and grief (to name but a few).

In 1995 Milly, Molly goes through a developmental stage, and Gill designs her own pattern for knitting machines, while continuing to refine the product.

1996 sees the Milly, Molly pattern re-designed to suit computer-operated machinery–thereby reducing hands-on labour, and increasing output.

The Milly, Molly website is set up, and the dolls are marketed internationally, with the majority of interest coming from the U.S.A.

Over the next few years, Gill Pittar expands the doll's colour range to fifteen choices of pure wool dolls. Milly, Molly tea towels are manufactured in India.

Milly, Molly House is opened in Gill's home town of Gisborne, NZ to greet the new millennium, and to promote the United Nations' new millennium catch phrase–acceptance of diversity.

The Milly Molly Charitable Trust is established, under the direction of a multi-cultural Board of Trustees. Through partnerships with non-profit agencies, NGO's and international foundations, the Friends now promote the Milly, Molly message to countries that cannot afford to buy the books and dolls.

It is at this time that Gill begins writing children's stories around the characters of Milly and Molly and their multi-cultural friends. This is a major turning point, and it gives Gill the tools to touch children from all corners of the world.