The Story behind our Neonatal and Prem Range

Our journey into creating a premature baby range started when we began donating surplus newborn stock to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Poole Hospital. The connection was made through Karly Brand, a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and mum to one of our mini models.

When we shared the donations on social media, we were moved by the response from our community. Parents and carers told us how difficult it can be to find specialist clothing for premature babies - garments that not only fit but also support medical needs and add a little brightness to what can be an emotional time.

Most of what’s available is plain white and designed without input from medical teams. Families told us how special it would be to dress their babies in something joyful, soft and full of colour. And that’s where the idea began - to create a small collection of purpose-designed neonatal garments for the NICU now based at Royal Bournemouth Hospital on a charitable basis. Made in our signature bright prints and soft organic cotton, developed with the expert guidance of the hospital team.

Once the idea took shape, we spoke to our long-standing factory partner in Turkey - a team we’ve worked closely with for more than 13 years. We asked if they might be willing to produce the range for the NICU during a lull in their manufacturing, and we were so touched by their enthusiasm to help.

Our Founder and Creative Director, Jo Spragg, visited the factory to help select fabrics and begin development. With advice from the NICU staff, we focused on how each garment could combine comfort, functionality and care - from gentle seams and soft fabrics to clever popper placements that allow access for feeding tubes, respiratory support and IV lines.

When the first samples arrived in Dorset, the neonatal team at Royal Bournemouth Hospital, led by Karly, provided detailed feedback. They tested the garments in real-life settings and even used babies in the unit for fittings to perfect the sizing and features.

Jo and our Garment Technologist, Alison, worked hand-in-hand with the nurses and our factory to refine every detail - ensuring the collection truly met the needs of both the babies and the amazing medical staff caring for them.

The result is a thoughtful range that includes hats and bonding squares, vests and sleepsuits, all made to provide easy access for medical care while keeping babies snug and safe.

After months of collaboration, it was a very special moment when the finished garments finally arrived at Kite HQ. To celebrate, we arranged a small event at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital Neonatal Unit to deliver the collection in person - enough for every baby passing through the unit per year to receive their own hat and bonding squares, vest and sleepsuit.

The room was filled with joy and emotion as hospital staff, families and some of the babies who had helped test the garments came together again. For the nurses, it was a chance to see those babies thriving. For us, it was a moment to reflect on what can be achieved when compassion and collaboration come together.

We hand-delivered the first sets to families on the unit - seeing the incredible care these little ones receive was deeply humbling.

This has been one of the most meaningful projects we’ve ever worked on at Kite. It brought together our values of kindness, sustainability and community in such a powerful way.

Our aim is to continue supporting the Royal Bournemouth NICU each year and to explore ways to roll out the initiative to other NHS Trusts on a non-profit basis, so more families can benefit.

We’ve also made a small quantity of garments available to purchase on our website, so families outside the Bournemouth area can access them too.

As Jo puts it:

“To create something that supports babies, parents and hospital staff in such a practical and heartfelt way has been incredibly special. We’re so proud of what’s been achieved together.”

Thoughtfully designed in collaboration with neonatal experts, made with love, and created to bring comfort and colour to families when they need it most.