Despite his youth, Reese Cooper is making waves. The 21-year-old designer is continuing to advance his rugged design acumen, with his Fall/Winter 2019 “Hitchhiking” collection displaying an impressive breadth of styles, and even expanding into womenswear. Craftsmanship, an open mind and a keen eye for detail all elevate his blue-collar inspired garments.

“I’m wearing the women’s collection purse,” Cooper admits. “But it’s really a unisex piece, with my custom bandanas woven through the chain.” He points out the bespoke fabrics woven throughout the bag’s metal chain, inadvertently highlighting one of the most exciting facets of his label. That is, when Reese Cooper (the brand) effortlessly updates a rugged staple into a covetable collectible, fusing luxurious craft with grounded influences.

When we meet up with Cooper, he’s dressed head to toe in his recent “Against The Wind” range. “These jeans got super messed up in my office in LA,” Cooper laughs. “I do a little arts and crafts day on weekends, printing, dying and all that. I just wipe my hands on my pants so whatever’s on there came from what I was working on.”

As evidenced by the well-worn jeans, Cooper’s clothes are made to be broken in, and then some. Comfort and functionality are at the core of his label, as evidenced by the relaxed, drawstring hoodie printed with the collection’s title. A care tag on the sleeve breaks down the story behind the line, while his jacquard-woven industrial belt adds further visual intrigue.

Tying it all together is a pair of daily drivers. “These Vasque hiking shoes are from REI,” explains Cooper. That hiking boots’ naturally complement Cooper’s clothing isn’t a surprise; both retain a design ethos geared towards readiness, inspired by adventure and a love of the outdoors. “I love the Vibram sole. I really only wear these kinds of shoes, you know: hiking attire.”

Cooper’s “Against The Wind” collection is exclusively available at Barneys.