Be who you are.
Love who you are.

Our story

Speia began with one community in mind: people with special needs and the families who love them. Our founders know that world firsthand, as parents raising children with complex medical and developmental needs. We wanted to make something that said, out loud and with pride, you are special exactly as you are.

But we quickly realized the message reaches far beyond one community. Everyone has something that makes them different, and everyone deserves to hold on to it. Different communities, different stories, same wish: to stay special.

So today, Speia is for anyone who refuses to shrink to fit in.

Why “Just Stay Special”

The world will always have opinions about who you should be. We’d rather remind you to stay who you are. Grow, change, stumble, surprise yourself, but hold on to what makes you you. Our clothes are a daily reminder of that, for you and for everyone who sees them.

Made for everyone

Most of our styles are unisex, and many run from 2XS to 6XL, because special doesn’t come in one size. Every item is printed when you order it, just for you.

Meet the Founders

Tami Gaines
Co-Founder

Tami’s turning point came the day she went from a corporate boardroom to a hospital room. Already a mom of two, she was overjoyed to learn she was expecting twins, and then suddenly found herself on her own. She spent five weeks in the hospital before giving birth to extremely premature twins with serious medical challenges. Her daughter spent four months in the NICU. Her son spent his first 18 months in hospitals and rehab before he finally came home.

As a single mom of four, Tami saw how little support exists for families like hers. She turned that experience into her book, Preemie Parents: 26 Ways to Grow with Your Premature Baby, and into a vision for an easier path for parents of kids with special needs. That vision became the seed for Speia. She brings more than 25 years of corporate experience, at companies including Microsoft, Meta, ADP and Unilever, and a Columbia MBA to building a brand with heart.

Sharon Webber
Co-Founder

For more than 20 years, Sharon has helped children and families affected by special needs. She began in Early Intervention, where she earned a certification in Applied Behavior Analysis, then moved to Montclair State University’s preschool disabled program, where she helped develop The Children’s Center, a program built for inclusion.

When her own son was diagnosed with autism, the work became personal. At the Family Support Organization of Essex County, she found her calling: educating and advocating alongside caregivers, leading a parent support group focused on resilience, grief and self-care, and training school districts on IEP advocacy and surrogate parenting. Sharon knows how lonely this journey can feel. Her passion, and a big part of Speia’s, is making sure no one walks it alone.