Woman who changed gender after kids and marriage wants to spread 'be kind' message

A woman who changed gender after a "lifetime in the wrong body" has now launched a clothing brand to spread a 'be kind' message. Nia Wyn-Heaton lived as 'Ian' for 47 years and became a dad to two children.

But she came out as trans in 2018 - speaking to North Wales Live about the "liberating" but difficult experience. Nia, from Rhyl, said that the response from people has been overwhelmingly positive but that she will still get abuse from time to time.

She said there had been an increase in negativity in the last two or three years with a backlash against transgender people - alongside increases in many forms of bigotry and racism. In response Nia, who owns Simply Logo Ltd, has launched a clothing brand called Simply Be Kind - with the message emblazoned across hoodies and t-shirts, and a green heart on every sleeve – a symbol of "the commitment to wear our compassion openly".

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Nia says she accepts people have different views on the transgender issue but that there was no excuse for hatred.

She said: "When I came out and we ran the article there was a wonderful response from so many people and I now live my life in a wonderful circle of friends.

"But you always get idiots and hatred, everyone can be a victim of this, it is not just about trans people, it is about general bullying. The abuse towards me is rare but it happens, there are bigoted people out there.

"The most recent one was a phone call to the business. The person asked to speak to 'Nia' but then said 'it's not Nia, it's f****** Ian'. It's very rare but it happens.

"When you have things happen like the response to the Olympic boxer over the summer then the hatred grows. It is the same with Trump being elected. It is even local too, a local woman selling pride flags on social media was getting abuse recently, she was just selling flags.

"I'm up for an argument and won't be everyone's cup a tea but I don't think that is a reason to abuse me or anyone else. People should just get on with their lives.

"This is my small way of fighting back, you can be a t*** but the bulk of us are kind."

The brand already has a large range of clothing - including twinning sets for a parent and child. They range from items with large bold messages to more subtle references for people to be kind to each other.

She sells online and in the shop. A percentage of the profits go to the Mind charity.

She added: "This was born out of a personal journey through some tough times. On one particularly difficult day, a close friend said something that really struck me: 'Why can’t people just simply be kind?'

"It was such a simple, yet powerful sentiment, and it stayed with me. Inspired, I decided to print the phrase on a hoodie, adding a small heart on the sleeve as a symbol of compassion. When I wore it out one night with friends, I was amazed by the response.

"Strangers began sharing their own stories and opening up about their struggles—it was a heart-warming experience that showed me how a small gesture can spark meaningful connections."

Nia added: "I saw a girl wearing a hoodie in Abergele recently and it gave me such a good feeling. I think it works with all ages - from 13 to 80, why can't everyone be kind."

She has worked with Denbighshire Leisure Ltd to share this message of kindness, with staff wearing the Simply DLL logo and ‘Simply Be Kind’ heart on their uniforms.

Nia said: "When I shared the story behind 'Simply Be Kind' and my vision for the brand with Jamie (Groves, Managing Director of DLL) he immediately connected with the message. He felt that it aligned perfectly with the ethos and values of DLL and wanted to get involved in helping promote this positive movement. This collaboration is a perfect example of how shared values can bring people and businesses together to make a difference.”

Jamie Groves said: “At DLL, we have always prioritised local businesses, and support them wherever possible. In Simply Logo, we found a business that also shared our vision and our goals around promoting a kinder and more understanding environment in which we can all work and live. We have always recognised the importance of protecting our staff and supporting them, and we have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to unwarranted or unfair social media comments directed at our teams.

"We feel that by entering this new partnership, we are taking a very exciting step; a further commitment to showing everyone who and what is really important to us. By becoming advocates for positive mental health and for kindness in our dealings with each other, we hope to be able to empower not only our staff, but our customers too. Together with Simply Logo, we have a created a strong message which we hope will bring about positive change.”

The brand can be found at simplybekind.co.uk.

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