Two leading names in contemporary menswear, Solid Homme and Stefan Cooke, have collaborated to launch a capsule collection inspired by the influence of mellow American style on 2000s fashion.
Designed by Stefan Cooke and Jake Burt, the founders of the London-based brand, the collection draws on their adolescent memories of playing in local bands and the American Apparel outfits worn by their favorite musicians. These musical experiences served as a gateway to exploring places like the US, which they didn’t visit until adulthood. The collection features studs on loose-fitting jeans, shorts, shirts, and jackets, reflecting the relaxed, subcultural uniforms of New York and Maine. The pieces also pay homage to environments where streetwear and industrial workwear dominate.
The designers explained that their goal was to create “a mix of clothes we would wear every day” and to “experiment with garment treatments we haven’t been able to do before.” This drive to explore new directions is evident in the collection’s faded finishes, T-shirts with hand-cut and photocopied graphics—a Cooke signature—and washed-out color schemes. A standout piece is a boxy leather jacket, which the designers describe as ‘perfect’ and a personal favorite.
Access to Solid Homme’s extensive archive played a significant role in the design process for Cooke and Burt, informing but not overshadowing their work. “In a way, we wanted to create a new project that wasn’t too close to what we or Solid Homme had done before,” the designers remarked. “So our DNA became less important. Although, I think we always design with our own handwriting.” They praised the South Korean brand’s “understanding of their customer, attention to detail, and long history,” making the project a subtle tribute to the blend of old and new design.
