PreemieCme

The project

To provide sustainable, functional and clinically-proven garments for premature babies, in the right size and without compromising the garment’s life-saving functionality. The collection includes specially-designed functional garments for premature babies that provide them with identity and safety, made from breathable, organic and natural materials. The functional design will consider the baby’s comfort by using seamless constructions and biofibres, while providing the medical care staff with telemetric one-hand pockets that allow tubes, wires and needles to be inserted where necessary. The design will also include a range of bright, neutral colours with different prints which helps the parents feel at home, and able to bond through an everyday task like dressing their baby.

Storytelling

THE IDEA:

When my daughter was born late 2014, my friend also gave birth to a baby girl during week 24. The survival chances were minimal, but she beat all odds and is now a happy 5-year-old who has grown up to be a good friend of my daughter. After seeing the way her mother struggled to find garments for her when she was at her smallest, the idea came to me to create functional premature garments for babies born as early as week 24! I couldn’t stand seeing her frustration where she had to buy expensive doll toys to cut their garments off to use for her baby. It was insane. And after all the research we have done – the conclusion is that our project is needed more than anything! Considering that 7000 babies are born too early in Sweden alone!

THE BIRTH OF THE PROJECT:

We have created a design that is entirely based on the input and experiences of the preemie parents and the nurses from the neonatal sections in Scandinavian hospitals. There are stratigically placed holes and a unique patented baby soft velcro on each garments. This makes it easy to work with the children in a hospital enviroment, and also for the parents to visually bond with their babies, since newborn preemie’s can look like anything else than a normal baby. We have also thought about skin-to-skin contact and the importance of the ability to carry your child close to you without taking the entire garment off and on, which can be challenging when they are so small!

Except for the unique and innovative design, sizes and prints – the enviromental aspects of the garment is also a very innovative factor. Since we will be working with a mixture of natural Chitosan fabric and Bamboo. This is not only allergy friendly to the babies sensitive skin – but also recyclable in all aspects, even down to the very last seam!

THE CREATIVE PROCESS:

The problem we have encountered has been that there is a Nordic crisis right now in hospitals where there is not enough neonatal nurses but too many babies born premature. Which has caused us a lot of delays in the way of trying to get interviews, finding the right people, finding someone who will prioritize talking to us and scheduling appointments for photo opportunities. We also had to go through a very long process to be able to find an original SAPMI Tribe to speak to. Another difficulty was also having to find a developed Velcro soft enough for the newborn premature babies skin, and combine this with an antibacterial fabric that is long lasting, environmental friendly, recyclable and breathable enough for the baby. The right pricing was also hard since the fabrics are exclusive, the Velcro is patented and original and the design patent would cost us a fortune. But the ideal was to still make it affordable enough for everyone and for the hospitals around the world. 

We are positive that there is a bright future ahead of the project. Since the garment is unique and innovative, plus having an environmental impact to it – it is a product that is easily sold and easy to upgrade. We are sure that we will get information enough to perfecting our product throughout the years to come and develop it even more together with the new needs of every neonatal hospital. We also look forward to creating matching accessories in our unique prints and deliver a full scaled package to each new parent of premature babies. We aim to be the number 1 choice for families around the world and giving a voice & identity to the ones who cannot speak yet.

THE COLLABORATION:

Regarding collaborations, our advice is to really get to know your partner and finding the one who has JUST AS MUCH PASSION AS YOU HAVE for the project or product. Otherwise – time will be down the drain, and the heavy load will land on you. So, make sure to know the person you will consider as partner, and make sure you have the same vision 1, 3, or 10 years from now – without losing the passion! 

THE FUTURE:

We will produce the larger scale that we know is needed after countless of research we have done. Since there is a crisis in Scandinavian hospitals for trying to find premature garments, we are sure the larger scale is needed in the bigger cities like Stockholm, where the team is living. So to put it shortly, we want to see our product firstly in the Scandinavian hospitals, then expand to Europe and from Europe become a worldwide sensation!

THE MESSAGE:

PreemieCme’s vision is to be the number one choice in the world when it comes to premature functional clothes for premature babies. The goal is to inspire parents and hospitals enough to not let any other choices in through their doors. The aim is to let the craftmanship, thought and function behind the garment make the statement we want to express. Not only will the professional design and innovative functions matter, but also the superior quality and feel of each and every garment.