Mother Denim Is a Disruptive Take on Jeans

When denim veterans Tim Kaeding and Lela Becker launched MOTHER eight years ago, they set out to disrupt the jeans landscape with flattering and rebellious fits. Inspired by groovy 1970s California, the label’s collections juxtapose soft and hard.

From fit names like The Runaway and The Looker to faded washes that evoke teenage rebellion, the brand’s cheeky culture shines through in every wardrobe collection.

Made in L.A.

The eponymous denim brand of Lela Becker and Tim Kaeding is famous for its irreverent disposition, model cult following and oh-so-soft fabrics. But what they stand for truly sets them apart from other premium Mother Denim brands. The label fuses teenage rebellion, unconditional love and hilarious insult all into one while keeping it cool with an indie spirit spotted on Gigi Hadid, Emma Roberts and Miranda Kerr.

Designed to be worn as separates, the label’s range of fits and washes – from high-waisted skinny jeans and cropped ankle booties to mid-rise boyfriend jeans and tees – appeal to a broad array of women, including the self-confident, body-positive type. The label stays true to its roots by staying local, with all manufacturing done within Los Angeles (even the washing and finishing!). It’s a choice that isn’t without sacrifice — despite its super soft and durable products, MOTHER’s prices can be hefty. But if you’re patient and willing to shop the discount retailers and sale sections, plenty of great deals can be found.

This Emmy award-winning documentary explores three immigrant garment workers in Los Angeles who form a united front with their attorneys from the Garment Worker Center to confront one of the city’s most well-known apparel retailers. The result is a riveting, powerful protest that illuminates the dark side of low-wage sweatshops while revealing what it takes for people to find their collective voice. The exhibition is made possible by the Mohn Family Foundation and members of the Hammer Circle. Bill Hair, Dori Peterman Mostov and Charles Mostov, Orange Barrel Media, The Peyton Family Foundation, The Rhonda S. Zinner Foundation, and The Pasadena Art Alliance provide additional support.

The Runaway

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When Lela Becker and Tim Kaeding launched Mother Denim in 2010, they brought extensive experience in the denim industry to their new brand. Both had worked for major companies, including 7 For All Mankind and the Gap, but their goal was to do things differently. The result is jeans that look and feel like classic denim, with just the right amount of stretch for a flattering fit.

With its laid-back vibes and ’70s references, The Runaway is the perfect place to get a quick bite or a cocktail. The restaurant’s menu features inventive burgers, cocktails, craft beer, and local spirits served alongside live music. And the best part? It’s located just steps from the beach.

Inspired by California’s sartorial ease and teenage rebellion, the Made in L.A. label fuses unconditional love for jeans with a sense of humour and edge. Shop a range of skinny, flare, wide-leg, and cropped styles designed for the perfect fit and comfort. Beyond denim, Mother Denim also offers graphic tees and jackets, embroidered skirts, and shorts. The brand’s unique juxtaposition of softness and edge has earned it a cult following, including celebrities like Gigi Hadid and Emma Roberts.

The Looker

One of Steam’s most popular new games this week is a 1-2 hour parody that aims to poke fun at and pay tribute to The Witness. The Witness, lead designer Jonathan Blow’s 2016 opus, is an expertly crafted puzzle game with a propulsive Hitchcockian thriller plot and a meditation on the scientific method. It’s a dense experience that’s easy to criticize, and one that many players did (some even went as far as to call it “The Witness: The F*cking Worst Game Ever Made”).

The Looker’s creator, Bradley Lovell, explains in a Reddit showcase thread that the parody isn’t meant as a takedown but rather as a tongue-in-cheek love letter. That doesn’t mean The Looker isn’t a biting, pointed satire. Throughout its short runtime, The Looker uses areas and puzzles that resemble Blow’s masterpiece, so closely they’re not even jokes.

For example, the first area’s long corridors and tutorial puzzles are reminiscent of The Witness. At the same time, a joke involving an activating laser is an apparent reference to the game’s famous “Which Way Is Up?” puzzle. The end of the game also features a live-action video that’s an obvious spoof of the original’s ending.

The Looker is ruthless and doesn’t let players off the hook for their mistakes. A simple error like failing to connect the dots between a rowboat and its sunk ship could result in the game deleting your save file—which happens if you complete that area. The Looker gets its cheap gags and snarks out of the way early, but it’s clear that the game doesn’t mean to satirize The Witness as much as to deflate its bloated sense of self-importance.