{"id":170047,"date":"2025-09-11T09:00:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T13:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mothermag.com\/?p=170047"},"modified":"2025-09-11T23:36:39","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T03:36:39","slug":"claire-mercieca-embrace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mothermag.com\/claire-mercieca-embrace\/","title":{"rendered":"Mother Essentials: Claire Mercieca of Embrace"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the founder of Embrace<\/a>\u2014a thoughtfully designed womenswear and maternity brand focused on everyday essentials made from natural, plant-based fabrics\u2014Claire Mercieca<\/a>\u00a0knows a thing or two about quality, comfort, and cutting through the noise. A lawyer in what she calls her \u201cpast life,\u201d Claire now pours her energy into creating the kind of wardrobe staples she actually wants<\/em> to wear (read: flattering, functional, and breastfeeding-friendly).<\/p>\n

When she\u2019s not growing her business<\/a>, Claire is deep in the juggle of life with two energetic boys\u2014Luc (5) and Beno\u00eet (2.5)\u2014sneaking in a yoga session or run when she can, and always on the lookout for products that simplify her day or spark a little joy. Her Mother Essentials<\/a> list is a reflection of that practical-meets-intentional philosophy, filled with skincare staples, kid gear that earns its keep, her new Lounge Bra<\/a> (designed for postpartum boobs), and a few chic luxuries that help her feel human\u2014even on the most chaotic days.<\/p>\n

Supergoop! Mineral Unseen Sunscreen.<\/strong> “My mom has always been devoted to sunscreen, and she has instilled the same discipline in me. I started wearing sunscreen daily at 18, and while I can\u2019t say for sure how much of a difference it\u2019s made, I\u2019m not about to risk finding out. This mineral, fragrance-free sunscreen from Supergoop! is the one I keep coming back to. I\u2019ve tested countless brands, but this is the only one that\u2019s kept dark spots at bay.” Mineral Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40, $40, Supergoop<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

N\u00e9cessaire Multi-Peptide Body Lotion.<\/strong> “I\u2019ve never been great about moisturizing, but this lotion changed that. It\u2019s fragrance-free, eczema-friendly, and somehow feels downright luxurious every time I use it. Now it\u2019s a nightly ritual I look forward to, and even my mother-in-law has given it her stamp of approval.” Multi-Peptide Body Lotion, $52, N\u00e9cessaire<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n

Medik8 Vitamin C Serum.<\/strong> “I\u2019ve been on the hunt for something to zap the dullness from my skin\u2014and this little bottle did just that. It\u2019s lightweight, gentle, and still feels like a treat to use.” C-Tetra Vitamin C Radiance Serum, $49, Medik8<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

SK-II Facial Mask.<\/strong> “Last one on skincare, I promise. Facial masks are a staple in Asian culture, and this one truly delivers. The glow is instant (I\u2019m not exaggerating), and it\u2019s hands-down the best mask I\u2019ve ever tried\u2014and I\u2019ve tried plenty.” Pitera Facial Treatment Mask, $25.50, SK-II<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

James Perse Linen Shorts.<\/strong> “I haven\u2019t worn any other shorts this past summer.” Lightweight Linen Pleated Short, $195, James Perse<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Still Here Cool Jeans.<\/strong> “These feel like pajamas\u2026but somehow still look like you made an effort. I receive compliments every single time I wear them.” Cool Jeans, $285, Still Here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Want Les Essentials Tote Bag.<\/strong> “Can we talk about how hard it is to find a truly beautiful leather tote? This one nails it\u2014minimalistic, lightweight, and roomy enough for real life.” Logan Tote, $695, Want Les Essentiels<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Embrace Ribbed Bra Top.<\/strong> “I may be biased, but I believe we made the perfect camisole with a built-in bra (because, let\u2019s face it, no one likes wearing a strapless bra). This is now my most-worn piece. I wear it for everything\u2014from yoga to brunch.” Ribbed Bra Top, $70, Embrace<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Embrace Lounge Bra.<\/strong> “We made a bra that *finally* understands postpartum boobs. Trust me when I say you won\u2019t find a more comfortable bra than this.” The Lounge Bra, $60, Embrace<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yohola Cork Yoga Mat.<\/strong> “This mat\u2019s soft enough for savasana, grippy enough for hot yoga. Plus, it\u2019s made with plant-based foam by a small business I love to support.” Original Cork Yoga Mat, $139, Yolohayoga<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Asics Gel-Kayano 32 Shoes.<\/strong> “I\u2019ve been running since high school, and I\u2019m convinced Asics makes the best running shoes. Pro tip: leave a thumb\u2019s width (roughly half an inch) of space when you size up\u2014your feet will thank you at mile ten.” Gel-Kayano 32 Sneakers, $165, Asics<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Babygold Multi-Initial Necklace.<\/strong> “I never thought I would wear an initial anything, but this initial necklace is pretty and dainty without veering cheesy. I have my husband\u2019s and kids\u2019 initials on them, and it works with every outfit.” 14K Gold Asymmetrical Multi-Initial Necklace, $235, Babygold<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Hanna Andersson French Terry Sweatpants & PJs.<\/strong> “I bought these for my firstborn, and three years later my second is wearing the exact same pieces. They really are Hanna-me-down quality. I especially love the oversized fit and thick organic cotton quality.” French Terry Sweatpants, $16, Hanna Andersson<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Parade Tank Romper. <\/strong>“Soft organic cotton, simple, well-priced, and so cute. We own four, and they\u2019re on constant repeat. I\u2019m keeping my boys in rompers for as long as I can get away with it.” Organic Tank Romper, $19, Parade<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Veer All-Terrain Cruiser.<\/strong> “When we were expecting our second, we debated between a double stroller and a wagon. I\u2019m so glad we went with this wagon. It\u2019s basically our family SUV. We use it every weekend, and the boys ride, snack, and chat while we haul them around. Plus, it handles any terrain (snow, sand, grass) we throw at it.” Veer All-Terrain Cruiser, $699, Crate + Kids<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

LunchBots Stainless Steel Bento.<\/strong> “Finding a kid-proof, 100% stainless steel lunchbox is harder than it should be. We pack our son\u2019s school lunch in this. He mostly refuses the food but never breaks the box. We take that as a win.” LunchBots Stainless Steal Bento Box, $24.95, Amazon<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Greens Steel Cups.<\/strong> “After the third broken glass (we love our shatter-resistant glasses from Fable<\/a> but they did not survive our children), we swapped the kids\u2019 cups for these. So far, so good.” Stainless Steel Cups (4-Pack), $25, Amazon<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Magna-Tiles<\/strong>. “The only toy that\u2019s lasted years of play and is still going strong in our playroom today.” Magna-Tiles Classic 100 Piece Set, $119.99, Amazon<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Anthropologie Glass Tumbler.<\/strong> “I swear water tastes better from a cute glass. When I\u2019m working I tend to forget to hydrate\u2014this one makes it easier to remember.” Juice Glass Tumbler with Lid, $22, Anthropologie<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

For more\u00a0<\/em>MOTHER ESSENTIALS<\/em><\/a>, peep our recent features with Hello!Lucky’s<\/a> sister duo, doula and author Latham Thomas<\/a>,\u00a0Carla Wingett<\/a>\u00a0of Idlewild Floral, on\u00a0Andrea Faulkner Williams<\/a>\u00a0of Tubby Todd,\u00a0Hana Getachew<\/a>\u00a0of Bole Road Textiles, artist & author\u00a0Carissa Potter Carlson<\/a>, actress & activist\u00a0Hilary Swank<\/a>, the co-founders of\u00a0Hearth Display<\/a>, author and organizer\u00a0Aida Mariam Davis<\/a>, design consultant\u00a0Joyce Lee<\/a>, self-care advocate\u00a0Rachel Garahan<\/a>, DJ\u00a0Va$htie Kola<\/a>, designer\u00a0Rebecca Minkoff<\/a>, VEERT founder\u00a0Julia Lang<\/a>, cookbook author\u00a0Jenn\u00e9 Claiborne<\/a>,\u00a0Neha Ruch<\/a>\u00a0of Mother Untitled, model, writer, and activist\u00a0Cameron Russell<\/a>, author\u00a0Nasozi Kakembo<\/a>, kid-lit talent\u00a0Bo Lu<\/a>, artist\u00a0Suzy Ultman<\/a>, and Super Smalls founder\u00a0Maria Duenas Jacob<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As the founder of Embrace\u2014a thoughtfully designed womenswear and maternity brand focused on everyday essentials made from natural, plant-based fabrics\u2014Claire Mercieca\u00a0knows a thing or two about quality, comfort, and cutting through the noise. A lawyer in what she calls her \u201cpast life,\u201d Claire now pours her energy into creating the kind of wardrobe staples she…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":170056,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[66,108,7],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mothermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170047"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mothermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mothermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mothermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mothermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=170047"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.mothermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170047\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":170156,"href":"https:\/\/www.mothermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170047\/revisions\/170156"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mothermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/170056"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mothermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=170047"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mothermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=170047"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mothermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=170047"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}