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I started out in the magazine world - first at Glamour, where I spent almost a decade styling fashion pages and obsessing over every accessory that crossed my desk. I worked my way up to Senior Accessories Editor before moving to ELLE in 2013 as Accessories Director, where I got to dream up big stories, style incredible shoots, and work with some of the most creative people in the industry. Those years were such an adventure and shaped how I see style - as a mix of storytelling, personality, and those little details that make something unforgettable.
Super Smalls is my way of making childhood a little more magical. We’re a craft and toy brand for the new generation, creating pieces that wow kids and adults alike while honoring kids’ taste and emotions. Our world spans jewelry, pretend play (clean!) beauty kits, dress-up accessories, cold-weather gear, and hands-on craft sets - each designed with the same care and attention you’d expect from a luxury brand, right down to the packaging. Nothing we make is disposable or generic; everything is meant to be kept, loved, and played with again and again. We love finding new ways to put kids in the creator seat - letting them bead, build, design, and dream up their own creations. Whether they’re layering on a necklace, painting their nails with a clean non toxic polish, or crafting a masterpiece with our sparkly gemify kits, every product is made to inspire self-expression, spark imagination, and deliver that extra dose of signature Super Smalls sparkle.
I love how collaborative and supportive it is. There’s this shared energy in New York - everyone’s building or working on something, but they’re also willing to share advice, connections, and even their own lessons learned. You can grab coffee with a fellow founder and walk away with three new ideas or a new collaborator. Just this quarter we are working on activations with Apple, Airmail, and a celebration with American Girl - all through the NY network! There’s this shared energy and mutual rooting for each other that makes the hustle here so much more fun.
Working as a fashion editor taught me to care about every single detail - the texture of a material, how something is packaged, and the story it tells. I was always surrounded by beautiful, well-crafted things, and I wanted to bring that same level of style, quality, and thought to kids’ products. For example, our Moms Make Up kit is styled to look and feel like REAL luxury make up and every detail matters - it’s all two tone and glossy, the ultra fine and soft bristles on the blush brush, a red lipstick that goes on clear, packaging that doubles as a keepsake carrier with a grosgrain ribbon handle, and even gem stickers to make it all your own! With Super Smalls, that editorial lens shows up everywhere - from the design process to the way we present our pieces - because I believe even the youngest customers deserve something that feels truly special.
The Super Smalls Super Book of Gems grew out of the world we’ve built at Super Smalls and my life at home with three kids. My daughters have always been fascinated by my jewelry - trying it on, asking questions, and making up elaborate stories about where the stones came from. I wanted to capture that same sense of wonder in a way that felt accessible to every kid. The book is like a coffee table book for children - a bold, graphic, sparkle-filled introduction to the world of gemstones that’s as beautiful as it is educational. I co-wrote it with my sister, Bianca Gottesman, and together we combined our backgrounds in writing, editing, and a lifelong love of jewelry and nature to create something that’s part fact, part fantasy. It’s meant to be a co-viewing experience for kids and grown-ups - flipping through together, discovering the symbolism and history of birthstones, learning fascinating gem trivia, and marveling at legendary designs from iconic jewelry houses. It’s like a treasure chest and jewelry box in one. More than anything, I wanted it to be a keepsake that inspires curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of sparkle.
@mduenasjacobs
@super.smalls
www.supersmalls.com