Californian denim brand Mother teams up with Milan’s La Double J for a nostalgic ’70s inspired collection featuring 30 vibrant pieces.
A new collaboration has emerged that merges the relaxed aesthetic of Los Angeles with the sophisticated flair of Milan. Mother, a California-based denim brand, has teamed up with La Double J, the fashion label founded by JJ Martin, to launch the “Ciao Mamma!” capsule collection. This vibrant collection, featuring 30 pieces, is set to debut on Thursday and is characterized by a nostalgic ’70s vibe that includes denim, flowy dresses, skirts, and shirts adorned with La Double J’s signature whimsical prints, complemented by vintage-inspired patches on sweatshirts and detailed embroidery on denim pieces.
The collection will be available for purchase at multiple high-profile retailers including Net-a-porter, Harrods, Le Bon Marche, as well as through the respective websites of ladoublej.com and motherdenim.com, in addition to La Double J’s physical stores. Prices for the items in this collection range from $120 to $1,290.
Both brands emphasize craftsmanship in their products, with Mother being renowned for its commitment to manufacturing denim in Los Angeles, and La Double J focusing on utilizing Italy’s rich textile heritage, including the use of luxurious silk prints. Speaking to Women’s Wear Daily, Martin described her experience in Mother’s design studio, stating, “Going into their design studio, it felt like entering my family living room.… It was just so cozy and energizing and immediate.”
Interestingly, the collaboration is underscored by a personal connection; Lela Becker, co-founder of Mother, is married to the son of Martin’s parents’ best friends. Their families shared a close relationship, having lived in the same duplex in Playa Del Rey, California, before moving to the upscale Pacific Palisades area.
Both brands recently faced setbacks due to the Palisades Fire, which resulted in the loss of planned retail locations. Martin noted the initial excitement of securing retail space, saying, “We had two stores right next to each other… that was all because Lela said we have a store opening, there’s a place next to it and do you want to come see it?” Becker conveyed the sense of renewal that came from that prospect: “We have quite a few things in the air that we’re trying to sort… But we had the most beautiful store design ever, and we had put our merchandise in on Jan. 6, which was the day before the fire erupted.”
Despite these challenges, the brands are excited to celebrate the collection’s launch, with events planned in both Paris and Los Angeles. Martin highlighted a standout piece from the collection, stating, “This is the Mother Mary goddess that was painted for the downstairs grotta of our Milan store, and they took it and made the coolest embroidery out of it and put it on their awesome oversized denim jacket.”
Another aspect of the collaboration is the focus on craftsmanship. Becker explained that the higher price point of the collection reflects the skill involved in its creation. Kaeding, co-founder of Mother, commented on the artisanal nature of the production process, emphasizing that “every single piece, like someone is sanding it with sandpaper” reveals the dedication to quality and detail. On this subject, Martin observed, “There is a huge difference in that and what we do, which is highly specialized and very specific. Could we make it cheaper? Yeah, of course. But there’s a reason we don’t, and that reason is because it’s a craft that we all believe in.”
Additionally, Martin is working on expanding La Double J to encompass a complete wardrobe, which includes solid pieces as well as new accessories such as jewelry and sneakers. While she has ambitions for retail expansion, including a flagship in Palm Beach, Florida, and Dallas, her search for potential locations in Los Angeles continues, leaving doors open for future collaborations and location-based partnerships. “We’re still looking in L.A., so Lela and Tim, if you find another one and there’s something nice next door, let us know,” she remarked.
Source: Noah Wire Services
