Reese Cooper, a 24-year-old multi-disciplined artist and designer based in California, takes on the task of creating the first collaborative effort on Merrell’s TR1 Hydro Moc. Cooper’s clothing designs are fueled by escapism and exploration, which aligns with Merrell’s product offerings of outdoor gear. The Hydro Moc was first introduced to us in January of 2021, during the early days of Foam RNNRS and clog-like footwear. With the surge in popularity of Crocs, both GR and collaborative, and the growing number of Yeezy Foam RNNR colorways, it was only a matter of time until other brands made their entry into the world of hype footwear.
The Reese Cooper x Merrell Hydro Moc features the traditional Hydro Moc shape and tooling, with a few cut-and-sew additions. First, the top of the shoe is split into a Y-shape to allow flexibility and weave in an elastic bungee lockdown element to the sneaker for better fit. The bungee then wraps around the heel of the ankle into a lace lock on the heel of the shoe, which sits just underneath the velcro lockdown strap that features the letters “RCI,” which stands for “Reese Cooper Inc.” The outsole is wrapped entirely in a thick rubber for added durability and traction, a design that takes the Hydro Moc from the waters to the trail. A black/red colorway will release alongside a mint foam/white, and black/green pair.
The Reese Cooper x Merrell Hydro Moc is set to be released in 2022. They will drop at Merrell, reese-cooper.com, and select retailers worldwide, both online and in-store. Sizing and retail pricing are TBA. Keep it locked to our Twitter andMobile App to stay up to date on future releases.
Images via reesecooper
Jonathan Paek is a writer on sneaker releases and news for Sole Retriever. Catch Jonathan's latest articles here!
