Sometimes, collecting is less about completing a set and more about following an obsession. A crystal picked up on a road trip with really good energy. A record discovered after years of searching. Matchbooks pocketed from memorable dinners. Camouflage with a rich history. A shelf full of glass animals that somehow became a menagerie. The assemblage of things that represents more than just stuff — it’s the passing of time, the markers of moments, the objects around us that give our lives and homes texture and meaning.

We asked five members of the MOTHER team to show us what they collect, how they started, and what these treasured objects say about who they are. 

Title: Senior Graphic Designer

What do you collect, and why?
Porcelain animals! It was a hobby my grandmother passed down to me at six, when we'd spend weekends wandering little shops for pieces that spoke to us.

How did the obsession begin? Do you remember the first piece?
It started with my grandmother in the 1940s. She grew up on a farm and has always had a passion for animals. Her first piece was a slightly out-of-place set of three hand-carved wooden deer.

Which piece means the most to you, and why?
It's hard to choose, there’s a lot of meaning behind each piece. The goat with the broken leg from my grandmother's original collection has always carried a lot of personality. I also love the duck pond from my own collection.

How do you live with your collection?
It's been tucked away for years, but reminiscing with my grandmother has been so fun I’m definitely gonna leave a few out after this.

Are you still hunting? What's next on your wish list?
I’m going to keep my eyes peeled! It’d be cool to find a little sea otter.

Title: Art Director

What do you collect, and why?
I collect records ‘cause I love music! I think that vinyl invites us to slow down and appreciate music in a deeper or more immersive way. I fully geek out on seeing the album art in its physical form and leafing through the liner notes or any other inserts the artist decided to include—all of that feels like a little bit of a lost art nowadays. It’s also just nice to discover a full album from cover to cover, as opposed to playing music on your phone and only putting on the one or two songs you already know. For me it brings the music all into context more and pulls me fully into the artist’s world and vision as they intended. 

How did the obsession begin? Do you remember the first piece that started it all?
I grew up in the era of CD’s and have been pretty obsessed with collecting music since I was a kid. As far as vinyl goes, I started really getting into it during the pandemic. I spent lockdown living in a dilapidated little treehouse in Mill Valley with 3 of my best friends, which fortunately had a turntable and some good speakers. We spent a lot of time hanging around cooking long dinners together and had like an unspoken natural rhythm of taking turns picking out the next record to play. Weirdly, lockdown was one of the best times of my life, and a huge part of that was the constant stream of good music that was running through our house. Whenever I hear certain records that I bought or listened to a lot during that time, it takes me right back. Music already gives us such a vivid connection to certain times, places, people, experiences we’ve had, but I think when all of that is tied to a long-term vinyl collection, it kind of heightens that sensation of being transported.

Which piece means the most to you, and why?
Very tough to pick just one, but my mind went straight to The Slider by T. Rex. I’m deeply into 70s glam rock and this album was pretty much my gateway drug.

How do you live with your collection? Do you display it, wear it, use it or keep it tucked away?
I keep all my records out in the credenza in my living room. I love whenever people come over, start thumbing through them, and naturally pick something out that they’re excited to throw on. It’s the best. 

Are you still hunting? What’s next on your wish list?
Always! I’ve been on kind of a blues kick this summer so right now I’m keeping an eye out for Muddy Waters’ Electric Mud.

Title: Co-Founder and President

What do you collect, and why?
I collect crystals, minerals, shells — even rocks. I’m just drawn to them. Each piece I find marks a moment in my life, so the collection becomes a way of holding on to those memories.

How did the obsession begin? Do you remember the first piece?
I’ve been collecting for as long as I can remember. I grew up going to garage sales and flea markets with my mom every weekend, and that’s where it all started.

Which piece means the most to you, and why?
My Jacquie Aiche tourmaline necklaces. They have the most magical energy.

How do you live with your collection?
I have crystals all over my home kitchen bedroom, bathroom and I wear them daily as well as carry a satchel of them in my bag with me.

Are you still hunting? What's next on your wish list?
I’m always on the hunt. I don’t have a wish list, I wait for the pieces that strike me.

Title: Graphic Designer & Illustrator

What do you collect, and why?
I love to collect all kinds of vintage paper ephemera, especially from the 1960s and 70s. Matchbooks are my favorite. I started to collect these things when I was in college learning printmaking and I began to see matchbooks as mini art prints.

How did the obsession begin? Do you remember the first piece that started it all?
I remember looking through boxes of my grandma’s keepsakes at her house when I was little. I think her practice of collecting pictures, paper notes, cards and other things inspired me to do the same. She always kept cards from friends and I'd admire the old Hallmark illustrations. 

Which piece means the most to you, and why?
Matchbooks that feature printed match sticks are the most exciting to find. I have a few, but the one with the dancing girls is the best.

How do you live with your collection? Do you display it, wear it, use it or keep it tucked away?
I display them in a ceramic bowl I made! One time my lovely boyfriend and I were out and without my knowledge he’d grabbed a matchbook out of the bowl thinking they were just…well matches to use. I saw him strike a match and screamed “NOOOO!!!” 

Are you still hunting? What’s next on your wish list?
Always! I have a few that feature the zodiacs and would like to collect all of the signs. 

Title: Product Artist Manager

What do you collect, and why? 
I collect and have collected many different things in my life. Camouflage has always been something that I have gravitated to since I was young, probably from watching too many war movies and collecting G.I. Joe toys as a kid. I think camo has a mix of things that I have always found interesting, it’s a combination of nature, art and fashion design. 

How did the obsession begin? Do you remember the first piece that started it all?
My favorite place to go as a kid was the army surplus store, I always left with like a camo hat or T-shirt. The 80s and early 90s were rife with USA war movie propaganda and I fell for it hard. Movies like Top Gun and Rambo were on heavy repeat and my friends and I thought it was the coolest shit ever. Camo also crossed over into my other interests like hip hop, punk rock, graffiti and skateboarding, it was all part of the uniform for us back then.

Which piece means the most to you, and why?
I have a New Zealand camouflage shirt/jacket that is pretty rare (even though its very similar to British camo). I got it when I went down there for the first time and got engaged on that trip, so its sentimental to me.

How do you live with your collection? Do you display it, wear it, use it or keep it tucked away?
I wear nearly all of it. The collection is made to be seen!!

Are you still hunting? What’s next on your wish list?
I’m always on the hunt!!! Would love to get some Zaire leopard camo (very rare) or some herringbone twill frog skin camo, right now trying to buy some Belgian paratrooper pants.

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