25/05/2026
SWAG1T was born from love.
In 2021, in the middle of COVID lockdowns, our world changed forever. Alena, just six years old, was rushed to hospital in New Zealand β desperately unwell β and diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.
Like so many T1D families, we navigated the unknown together. The finger pricks, the carb counting, the sleepless nights checking levels. And then in late 2023, Alena got her insulin pump β a life changing moment for any T1D.
But there was a problem.
Nothing existed to hold her pump comfortably. Everything was too big, too stiff, too uncomfortable for a little girl to wear 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As her Nana β and a tailor and designer with over 50 years of experience β I did what Iβve always done.
I made her something.
I designed a pump band specifically for Alena. Soft, comfortable, perfectly sized, and made with every bit of love a Nana could put into it. She could wear it all day, sleep in it at night, and most importantly β she felt like herself again.
When we attended pump training at the hospital, something unexpected happened. Other families saw Alenaβs band and wanted one too. The diabetes staff pulled me aside and said βYou should be selling these.β
And so SWAG1T was born.
So what does SWAG1T mean?
In the T1D world, a Swag is a Scientific and Wildly Amazing Guess β the educated estimate every pump user makes when bolusing for food with unknown carbs. Itβs a term every T1D knows intimately.
Our neighbours in Aussie will tell you a swag is a pack of personal belongings you travel with. Also fitting.
And Swag β well, thatβs stylish confidence.
Because thatβs exactly what we want every T1D to feel when they wear our bands. Confident. Stylish. Proud.
We started with local New Zealand prints. Today we design and print our own exclusive fabricsβ because your pump band should be as unique as you are.
Over 300 prints. Every size. Every personality.
From Alenaβs Nana, to your family. With love. π
Swag1T β Style meets T1D