Fashion
NYC designer Richard Alexander Cooke creates deconstructed, handcrafted garments inspired by nature, process, and fearless experimentation.
Updated 05:19 pm EST, January 7, 2026
Published 03:48 pm EST, January 7, 2026
NYC designer Richard Alexander Cooke creates deconstructed, handcrafted garments inspired by nature, process, and fearless experimentation.
Updated 05:19 pm EST, January 7, 2026
Published 03:48 pm EST, January 7, 2026
A few years ago, I got my first taste of the corporate world. It took only a couple of hours for me to reach the firm realization that it wasn’t for me. Not even in my wildest dreams. Perhaps that’s why I’ve been able to so deeply understand the story behind Richard Alexander Cooke, an independent designer behind his own label in NYC.
Born in Long Island and drawn to creation and the arts from a very young age, Richard needed just one experience in the professional corporate world to know, with absolute certainty, that it wasn’t for him.
About ten years ago, almost by chance, Richard ended up working as an atelier assistant for a friend who was studying at Parsons. It was in that moment that a suspicion began to take shape: perhaps this was his path, perhaps this was the way for his voice to be heard.
From there, he didn’t hesitate much. He began buying sewing machines and sourcing suits, jeans, and other pieces to redesign, experiment with, and deconstruct, research processes and embark himself on a long road of trial and error. There was no other option for him than to build a brand rooted strictly in craftsmanship, intentional irregularity, and naturalness.
Today, in his creative studio, they produce pieces that, in his own words, look like an autumn road trip: natural colors, fabrics dyed using natural pigments, and elements made from shells, horns, and other materials gathered wherever they can be found. It’s about creating, experimenting, and pushing boundaries. Not necessarily aiming to be the peak of the avant-garde, but rather taking creation to a different place and trying new ways without expectations or fear.
Nowadays, Richard sells primarily to a client who truly wants to know, wants to listen, and wants to own the garment. For this reason, their main sales channel is through small boutiques that genuinely understand the philosophy and values of his brand, all located in the US and South Korea. A way of preserving the true essence of his label in the midst of the online shopping and second-hand era.
Lucía holds a master’s degree in communication management, specializing in fashion and luxury marketing. With a profound appreciation for art, fashion, and history, she has discovered her vocation in fashion journalism. Currently, she dedicates her efforts to this field in her early twenties, residing in the dynamic city of Madrid.
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