About Smalls

Smalls was born during a turning point in my life after leaving Allure, and my dear friend Lisa Eisner suggested I make a list of things I wanted but couldn't find for myself. At the top of that list was "perfect cotton underwear". I was inspired by photography books from the 70's, where women wore great little cotton panties that sat low on the hips, which were popular among California surf culture. However, I couldn't find them anywhere, and even the closest option I found, little girls' underwear, didn't fit me properly.

The name "Smalls" came to me immediately as it tied into the idea of little girls' underwear for women and the English term for the lingerie department. The next step was perfecting the patterns, which took about a year since I was determined to use 100% cotton, making it crucial to get the fit just right to avoid sagging. I didn't want to use synthetic fabrics like Lycra that cling to the body regardless of the fit.

Developing the packaging was also time-consuming, and I wanted to sell the underwear in a three-pack like little girls' underwear, with a clear envelope to showcase the front and back of the garment, no tape or plastic bits, and easy-to-read size stickers. I also added an inside label made of 100% cotton attached by two hand-sewn stitches, making it soft on the skin and easy to remove for those who prefer to cut out the label.

Once I had the samples, I knew I had a hit since I loved wearing them, and so did my friends, who then told their friends, and so on. These panties are road-tested, and even expecting mothers have found them comfortable to wear below the bump. And men find them irresistible too; Elvis even had a dresser filled with white cotton panties and would ask his "lady friends" to change into them if they wore lacy or frilly underwear.

Looking ahead, Smalls will expand its offerings to include bras, tops, and bathing suits with the same Smalls look. Once you try Smalls, you'll never go back.