Caroline Bentley Noble – From Streetwear Visionary to NICU Hero

Imagine: your clothing designs are lighting up the stages of Coachella, worn by icons like Rihanna and Lady Gaga. Stylists are calling, celebrities are wearing your creations, and your name is suddenly on the lips of Hollywood’s elite. That was Caroline Bentley Noble’s reality — a self-taught designer from Kentucky who turned bandanas, vintage tees, and raw imagination into one of the most sought-after streetwear aesthetics of the late 2010s.

But while her star was rising in the fashion world, life was quietly preparing a different runway. One where Caroline’s greatest creation wouldn’t be in fabric or couture — but in hope, stitched together one bunny at a time.

From the Cutting Edge of Fashion to the Spotlight

As a young woman craving self-expression, Caroline secretly collected vintage T-shirts and retro jackets, even when local style norms made her hesitant to stand out. After high school, she pursued acting in New York City and then headed west to Los Angeles – but fate had other plans. In LA, she discovered a passion for transforming ordinary clothes into edgy, one-of-a-kind pieces. With no formal fashion training, she taught herself by trial, error, and Google tutorials, applying basic sewing skills learned from her grandmother. What started as “ripping up some shirts” for a photoshoot soon snowballed into a full-fledged streetwear brand, Avenue C.

Caroline’s fearless creativity and bold networking paid off. Her custom vintage tees and hand-painted jackets caught the eye of Hollywood stylists and A-list stars. The Kardashian-Jenner sisters were spotted in her bleached vintage T-shirts, and by happenstance, one of her crystal-studded face masks made it to Rihanna, James Harden and several NBA stars who rocked it at Coachella 2017.

Soon, celebrity fans like Lady Gaga, Migos, and Kylie Jenner were all wearing Caroline’s designs – an astonishing feat for a designer who was just 26 at the time. “The way my brand took off was completely unexpected. It’s crazy to think back on it!” Caroline told Teen Vogue, reflecting on her whirlwind entrance into the fashion industry.

She had effectively “made it” in the streetwear world, admired for her rebellious Kentucky-meets-couture style and DIY ethos. In 2021, she even appeared as a contestant on HBO Max’s streetwear competition The Hype, where she spoke about carving out her place as a woman in a male-dominated field and encouraged others: “Anything you dream of is possible… If you don’t see what you want, make it.”

A Life-Changing Twist – Twins at 23 Weeks

Just as Caroline’s fashion career was reaching new heights, life brought an unforeseen challenge that put haute couture on the back burner. In 2023, Caroline moved back to Kentucky and was overjoyed to be expecting twins. The pregnancy went smoothly at first. But in early December, at only 22 weeks along, Caroline experienced a premature rupture of membranes – her water broke far too soon. She was admitted to UK HealthCare and placed on strict bed rest, as doctors fought to delay labor and give the babies more time to develop. Despite their efforts, Caroline went into labor after 10 days.

On December 16, 2023, Caroline’s twins made their dramatic entry into the world 116 days before their due date. Daughter Paisley arrived first at just 1 pound 5 ounces, followed two minutes later by son Jaxson, 1 pound 4 ounces. “I was in utter shock,” Caroline recalls. “I had no idea babies could be born so small.” Each micro-preemie immediately had a team of over a dozen specialists fighting for their lives. Thus began a harrowing five-month journey in the Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Kentucky Children’s Hospital – a period Caroline describes as the most traumatic and trying time of her life- yet simultaneously an introduction to the magical world of medicine- which she previously knew nothing about.

The NICU became a second home for the family.

Tiny Paisley underwent emergency surgery at just 8 days old for a serious intestinal perforation – a procedure so delicate that the surgeons likened her to being “smaller than my hand” during the operation. Both infants faced numerous complications of extreme prematurity. Caroline and her family lived on a rollercoaster of progress and setbacks, spending their first Christmas, New Year’s, and even Mother’s Day in the hospital with the twins.

Throughout this ordeal, Caroline was in awe of the dedication and compassion shown by the doctors, nurses, and support staff. “They picked me up off the floor and treated me with such kindness and care,” she says, crediting the NICU team – whom she lists by name as personal heroes – with getting her through the darkest of days.

Bunnies for Babies – Crafting Comfort from Crisis

What started as a therapeutic pastime soon grew into a mission. With idle hands and a grateful heart, Caroline launched Bunnies for Babies right there in the NICU. Using fabric scraps, hospital gowns, old clothes – anything soft and sewable – she began crafting stuffed bunny rabbits as gifts for the NICU staff who cared for Paisley and Jaxson.

“I am very passionate about making sure I can give someone a token of my gratitude, which pales in comparison to what they’ve shown me with my children,” 

Caroline says of those early bunny creations.

Each bunny was unique and handmade with love. Caroline poured her creative flair into them, embellishing the toys with personal touches and upcycled materials that told a story. “This one is actually made from the fabric of my grandmother’s dining room chairs… these are the chairs I grew up eating holiday dinners on, and now it’s a bunny,” she explained.

“My love for bandannas runs deep,” she added with a smile, holding up another bunny stitched from classic paisley cloth.

As her twins grew stronger day by day, Caroline’s pile of bunnies grew higher. Friends and community members pitched in: a garment facility in New York, as well as Valerie Stewart- a volunteer seamstress in Kentucky who sewed 200 bunnies on her own, and countless donors who provided fabric and supplies.

Within weeks, Caroline had made enough plush rabbits for every single nurse, doctor, respiratory therapist, and support staff member in the NICU. (As a bonus, she also crafted bracelets for nearly all of the NICU nurses and doctors.)

But she didn’t stop there. Caroline decided every baby in the NICU should also go home with a bunny of their own. With the help of NICU social worker Anna Bullard, that vision became reality. Today, each new family in the unit receives a soft bunny — a symbol of hope and solidarity from someone who has been in their shoes.

Impact and Inspiration

In a short time, Caroline’s labor of love has made a tangible impact on her community. Nearly 700 bunnies have been lovingly crafted and gifted since the first one in late 2023. By mid-2024, she was closing in on 1000 bunnies, which at that time was enough for every NICU staff member and baby at Kentucky Children’s Hospital to have their own.

Caroline also expanded the care packages to include custom bracelets, postpartum recovery baskets for new NICU moms, and meal gift cards, addressing everyday needs that mean the world to families in crisis.

Most rewarding for Caroline are the moments she sees her work come full circle. A year ago, she was the frightened parent clinging to any sign of hope. Now she stands in the NICU bearing gifts, often holding one of her now-thriving twins on her hip, as she spreads hope to other parents in crisis.

Caroline’s creative talent and compassionate heart have truly converged in Bunnies for Babies. In her dual role as designer and donor, she exemplifies how art can heal. The funky, chic sensibility that put her on the fashion map now brings smiles to parents who haven’t smiled in days. “I hope that when people hold one of these bunnies, they feel the love I have for creating and the love I have for life and for my children,” Caroline says. “It’s like a little hug built into each one.”

Looking ahead, she envisions Bunnies for Babies expanding beyond Lexington, eventually delivering cuddly companions to NICUs across Kentucky and nationwide. She’s also reaching out to companies for support, hoping to fund added services like counseling, art therapy, or travel assistance for NICU families. And while motherhood keeps her busy, she hasn’t abandoned her designer roots. Caroline remains a firm believer that “you can do it yourself” — whether that’s clothing for celebrities or bunnies for babies.

References

• Teen Vogue: This 26-year-old Streetwear Designer Counts Rihanna and Kylie Jenner as Fans

• Hypebae: Caroline Bentley Is the Designer Making Custom Clothing For Your Favorite Celebrities

• Highsnobiety: The Designers on HBO Max’s The Hype Speak on Women in Streetwear

• UKNow: ‘Bunnies for Babies’ Brings Big Comfort to Tiny Patients

• AHA: From NICU to Nonprofit: How One Mom Is Bringing Bunny-Shaped Comfort to UK Healthcare and Beyond

• Fox56: Lexington Mother Uses Her Story to Empower Others With Uniquely Designed Bunnies

• LEX18: Mom Uses Her Birth Experience to Help Others

• Lucky in Kentucky Official Website – www.luckyinkentucky.org