This past week Reese Cooper presented his S/S22 Runway collection aptly entitled “Fresh Air.” The collection may have many translations due to the fact we are finally exiting the Covid-19 pandemic and the world seems as if it has a fresh start. For Cooper, however, I think that “Fresh Air” really was an internalized affair in which the designer was able to take a step back and wield the environment that surrounds and inspires him. For Cooper’s first Paris runway show, back in January 2020, the Palais de Tokyo was transformed into a forest with massive amounts of imported dirt and nature backdrops. Looking back it seems ironic, however, I think many designers have actually found success and have been able to story tell even more due to the digitization of Fashion Weeks due to the pandemic.

“Fresh Air” marked Cooper’s deeper foray into a more robust women’s offering with a variety of camisoles, skirts, and a show-closing organza dress. Partnering with a frequent collaborator, Juliet Johnstone, who assisted with the floral motifs on the accessories throughout the collection, gave Cooper the inspiration for “flowers rustling in the wind” for the more fluid pieces in the collection. Some core pieces in the collection came in the form of cargo trousers, map-ridden windbreakers, graphic knit sweaters, and workwear-inspired jackets (all fully equipped with an aluminum water bottle). Cooper also presented two brand partnerships, the first being with Levi’s, in which Cooper created one-of-one upcycled denim jackets and jeans. The second is a collaboration with Merrel on footwear - a new category Cooper first presented last season in the form of “The Wilson” hiking boot. For this collection, we saw expanded colorways of the boot in addition to a variety of Merrel co-branded athletic sneakers - paired perfectly with the looser cargo trousers. Overall, Cooper’s collections continue to be nature-inspired, uplifting, and reflective. As we all emerge from the pandemic and such a hard year behind us I think we are looking for that fresh start and re-entrance into nature. Cooper delivered just that with “Fresh Air.” Be sure to swipe through the full collection & watch the presentation below.