Mother Karen's: the Powdershirt from Salt Lake City since 1973

Mother Karen's was born in 1973 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and takes its name from its founder, Karen. The piece that made it recognisable is the Powdershirt, a pullover designed for spring skiing: colour-blocked panels, raglan sleeves and a deliberately oversized kangaroo pocket. This was not European country club clothing, it was made for people who actually ski, and within a few years it became a cult object across the Rocky Mountain scene. When the Walkman arrived in 1979, that pocket turned out to be perfect for a player and a few cassettes, and the Powdershirt left the slopes: surfers and skaters in California wore it, and so did students on the East Coast.

The brand is back thanks to Russ Moorehead, who brought it to life again after buying a vintage jacket for his teenage son, who had never heard the name. Production today is in small batches, with contemporary materials and updated volumes on the same original design. The promise is still the one printed on the labels fifty years ago: made with mother loving care.