Female Founder Fridays: Maya Brenner

From the archives: Check out my conversation with Maya Brenner, jewelry designer and mastermind behind Maya Brenner Designs . Maya began making jewelry in 1998 while living in New York City and working as a social worker. Her necklaces became highly-requested gifts among family and friends, and Maya moved to California in 2001, where her line was picked up by notable retailers including Fred Segal , Anthropologie and Neiman Marcus Group .

The below conversation originally took place on my Threads account in September 2023.

How did you start out in the business and what made you pursue your passion for design/creating your own line?

I originally moved to NY to pursue a career in social work but had always been interested in the process of making things and jewelry. I taught myself how to wire-wrap, and I'd make jewelry at night to decompress -- mostly beaded designs, simple, yet eye-catching in their own way. To my surprise, strangers would approach me and ask where I bought my necklaces. As fate would have it, a store approached me and not long after that, a sales rep found me and I got into Anthropologie in 2000.

What an amazing accomplishment to have Anthropologie as one of the first retail stores to carry your jewelry - that is one of my personal favorites! How did you develop your unique style of jewelry and how would you describe it?

I design what I’m looking for in my personal jewelry wardrobe, and along with that, I always strive to create pieces that are timeless, meaningful, but I like to make it unique by adding my own fun & whimsy twist.?

Jewelry is often so personal and sentimental -- can you share a memorable experience where your jewelry made a significant impact on someone’s life?

Oh, I can’t pick just one!? I receive the most heartwarming messages almost daily. We have a pretty close-knit community, and I’ve always believed that the most meaningful part of my business is the personal connections we make with our customers. We actually recently started a?"Letters From The Heart" page on our blog, where you can read about the incredible stories behind some of our customers’ personalized pieces.? If you have a free moment, you should take some time to check it out.

What are some of the most significant challenges you have faced as a female entrepreneur in this business, and how did you overcome them??

I’m lucky in the way that I’ve always been able to be the sole owner of my business so I’ve never had to seek financing which is where I feel a lot of women face challenges. However the jewelry supplier industry has been traditionally male dominated and I’ve had to push to be taken seriously and treated fairly in those markets.

To be able to be the sole owner and make decisions -- whether they ultimately were the right ones or not -- must be freeing. I'm sure all were key learnings along the way, but to have the flexibility to do that, without having to report to anyone else, is what so many business owners strive to achieve. At the same time, collaboration is key. Can you share some of your most rewarding collaborations to date and how they have contributed to your brand’s growth? Who would you like to collaborate with next??

I love collaborating with women-- I think it's such a fun way to show support for each other. As far as recent collaborations go, I just finished a line of jewelry for the Taliesin Preservation that I’m super excited about. I’m a huge fan of his architecture and when they reached out to me to work together I was incredibly honored. I also have a scent collaboration with by/ rosie jane coming early next year that I cannot wait for!

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in the field??

Grow organically, call in all of your favors, don’t be afraid to start small, say yes to every opportunity and steer clear of debt.?

You have had so many famous faces wearing your jewelry – what has that meant for the brand?

Seeing our jewelry on famous faces has been an amazing boost for the brand. It's not just about the exposure, it makes our jewelry relatable and aspirational for everyone. Plus, it's opened up some exciting opportunities and reminds us that Maya Brenner is all about making everyone feel stylish and unique.

How are you able to juggle being a busy mom of 3 and a successful entrepreneur? Any tips/advice for balancing it all?

It's not always easy to keep a balance between work and life, especially when you're a mom. But I've found that the key is finding a routine that works for you and your family. I'm also fortunate to have a talented, dedicated team. They've worked hard to become a cohesive unit, and they don't even need me at times. I can easily step away from work when my family needs extra attention.

What do you do to relax and unwind?

I usually try to move my body in some way… Pilates has been my long time favorite exercise. I also love crawling into bed with a good book or juicy TV show.

Can you share a challenging moment in your career and how you bounced back from it?

I've definitely faced my fair share of career challenges in the last 25 years, and one of the latest was COVID. We were able to power through thanks to my fantastic team's dedication and the amazing support from our customers. My personal philosophy is all about taking a tough situation and finding the silver lining or what I can learn from it. This brought my team closer together, led us to our amazing new studio and made me more okay pivoting, even though I'm not a fan of change.

What are your future goals and aspirations for Maya Brenner Jewelry?

Looking ahead for Maya Brenner Jewelry, my goal is to keep challenging myself and stepping out of our comfort zone. Teaming up with the?Wright-Taliesin?was a great example of that because it took us into a completely new creative direction and partnership that we hadn't explored before. So, I want to keep pushing those boundaries and exploring unique opportunities like that!

I feel like you always have something fun and exciting up your sleeve! Can you highlight some of your all-time favorite pieces from the collection and share the inspiration behind them?

Ah, picking a favorite is like choosing a favorite child! A few pieces hold a special place in my heart: First, the Leaf Charm Necklace, one of my first ventures into gold and charm pieces. I created it when my son Jack was born. Picture this: I'm in sweatpants covered in spit-up, and this necklace was my way of feeling put-together amidst the chaos of motherhood. I've always been a fan of that eclectic mix-and-match style, so having multiple charms on one necklace appealed to me.?

Then there's our Found Objects collection, which is a more recent addition. Each piece in this collection was personally designed by me and inspired by moments in my life. You can actually find the inspiration behind each piece right on the product page, which adds a personal touch to every purchase.

And of course, I can't forget our Letter necklaces. I came up with these after having my daughter, and they symbolize the love I have for my family. I wanted something delicate and easy to wear, so I went with a light chain and a small letter. But, being me, I had to add a touch of whimsy, which is how the idea of placing the letter to the side came about. Admittedly, folks were a bit puzzled by it at first, but now it's an international best-seller and a beloved part of our collection.??

They are classic and never go out of style. Thank you so much for joining me today. This was incredible!?

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