Farm-To-Fashion Lifestyle With Michael Couch

Based in upstate New York, Michael has built a lifestyle centered around horses, farm work, and the outdoors. Through his appreciation for heritage craftsmanship, denim, and authentic wear, he documents how well-made garments evolve through everyday use. We spoke with Michael about his lifelong connection to animals, his farm-to-fashion lifestyle, and his journey with selvedge denim. Let's dive into the interview.

Tell us about yourself. 

Growing up, animals were never just an interest to me — they were a constant part of my life and identity. As a kid, I had a subscription to Zoobooks and would wait impatiently every month for the next issue to arrive. That curiosity quickly turned into a lifelong obsession with learning about wildlife, conservation, and animal behavior. Every trip or family vacation somehow ended up involving a zoo, aquarium, nature center, or horseback riding excursion because being around animals was always what mattered most to me.

One of the biggest influences on me growing up was Steve Irwin. I watched everything he did and admired the passion, energy, fearlessness, and genuine love he had for animals. For me, it went far beyond simply being a fan of a television personality — I genuinely looked up to the way he lived his life. I studied his work constantly, repeated facts and stories from his shows, and carried that same excitement for animals into my own life. When he passed away, friends and family actually called me to check on me and express their sympathies because everyone knew how deeply I admired him and how much of an impact he had on me growing up.

Horses have always been especially important to me. From the time I was young until now, if given the opportunity, I will always choose to get on a horse. As a teenager, I would take weeklong horseback riding trips through youth programs to places like Maine and Cape Cod. On a family trip to Arizona, I convinced everyone to go on a four-hour trail ride — they may not have appreciated it afterward as much as I did, but for me it was unforgettable.

Later, while living in Reno, Nevada, I had the opportunity to work with retired exotic animals at Animal Ark. Nevada’s laws around exotic animals meant that some privately owned animals ended up needing sanctuary placement once they became too large or difficult to care for. Working there gave me hands-on experience helping care for lions, tigers, cheetahs, bears, and other incredible animals. Being around those animals every day was both humbling and inspiring, and it reinforced the deep respect I’ve always had for wildlife and animal care.

Today, that same passion continues through my work with horses. I spend most of my time riding, training, handling, and simply being around them, and I genuinely love every minute of it. Animals have shaped nearly every chapter of my life, from childhood fascination to hands-on experience, and they continue to influence the way I approach both life and creativity — with patience, curiosity, respect, and a deep appreciation for the connection between people, animals, and the environments we share.

How do you balance style and function as someone who lives a “farm to fashion” lifestyle?

I balance style and function as naturally and organically as possible because, for me, the two have never really been separate. Living a farm-to-fashion lifestyle means the clothing has to actually work first. I spend my time around horses, barns, mud, dust, rain, leather, machinery, and hard physical work, so I need pieces that can take abuse, last for years, and age alongside me rather than fall apart after a season.

I’ve always been drawn to old-school American workwear and blue-collar style, from the early 1900s through today. Back then, people wore durable clothing because they depended on it. Chore jackets, chambray shirts, heavyweight denim, leather boots — those weren’t fashion statements first, they were tools. But there was still pride in how people presented themselves, even while doing difficult work. I love that mindset. There’s something timeless about someone shoveling manure or working a ranch while still wearing well-made denim, quality boots, and clothing that carries dignity and character.

What I appreciate most is the way real garments evolve over time. Natural fibers breathe better, durable fabrics mold to the person wearing them, and every fade, repair, tear, crease, and patch tells a story. Denim develops lines and wear patterns from repetitive movement. Jackets soften and pick up marks from weather and work. Boots become shaped by miles walked and years used. None of that character is artificial or manufactured — it’s earned through daily life. That’s what I connect with most.

A lot of modern fashion feels temporary to me, designed to be replaced as trends change. I’ve always preferred pieces that become more personal the longer you own them. Clothing should reflect the life you live, not imitate one. That’s why I gravitate toward heritage workwear and timeless construction — because the style comes naturally from the function, the wear, and the pride people put into both their work and the way they carry themselves.

What is your day-to-day look like?

Most of my days start early. I’m usually up getting my son ready for school and out the door before heading straight to the barn. Once I’m there, the first priority is always the horses — feeding, turning them out, mucking stalls, restocking hay, filling waters, and making sure everything is handled before anything else begins. If I can fit it in, I’ll try to shoot some content while I work, but the responsibilities always come first.

After the barn is cleaned and the daily setup is done, I’ll usually check the property for maintenance projects. Farm life is unpredictable, so there’s almost always something that needs attention — repairing fencing, clearing brush, fixing equipment, mowing fields, cutting trails, moving hay, or handling seasonal chores depending on the time of year.

From there, we start pulling horses to ride and train. Living in New York means working through every season, so riding never really stops. In the winter, some horses work indoors while others continue outside year-round. Some days we stay on property, while other days we trailer out to parks and trail systems since New York has a surprisingly great network of horse-friendly trails and riding areas.

The farm work doesn’t stop with the horses either. Depending on the day, I could be feeding other animals, collecting eggs, plowing driveways after a storm, clearing fallen trees, or handling general property upkeep. No two days are exactly the same, which is part of what I enjoy about it.

By late afternoon, I’m back into dad mode — picking my son up from school, one of his clubs, or a sporting event. Twice a week we head to soccer practice where I coach his team, and weekends are usually filled with games, chores, more horses, and trying to keep everything moving.

It’s a busy life with very little downtime and not a lot of sleep, but I genuinely love it. Between the farm, the horses, my son, and the creative side of documenting it all, every day feels full of purpose.

What’s the story behind your denim journey? What sparked your love for selvedge, and how has your approach evolved?

My journey into selvedge denim probably started the same way it does for a lot of people. You buy that first pair of denim that feels unbelievably stiff compared to anything you’ve worn before, and after weeks or months of wear, they eventually soften up to the point where they almost feel like sweatpants. Once you experience that transformation, it’s hard not to want more out of it — more texture, more durability, more character, and a longer break-in process. From there, it becomes a rabbit hole in the best possible way.

My love for selvedge really grew out of my appreciation for old-school workwear and vintage craftsmanship. I’ve always been drawn to garments that were originally designed to last and to serve a purpose. If something was durable enough for hard labor generations ago, it’s certainly durable enough for the work I do now. That philosophy naturally led me toward heavyweight denim, heritage construction, and fabrics with real substance and longevity behind them.

What makes selvedge different to me is that it earns its character over time. The fades, creases, repairs, wear patterns, and texture all become tied to your daily life and movement. It stops feeling like just another pair of jeans and starts feeling personal — almost like a visual record of your routine, your work, and your experiences. Every mark has a reason behind it. Nothing is artificial or pre-manufactured.

As I’ve gotten deeper into denim, I’ve become much more detail-oriented. I pay attention to where fabrics are sourced, the hidden construction details, the weave, the texture, and the weight. Over time I gravitated toward heavier denim, although I still keep lighter-weight pairs around during the summer months. I’ve experimented with different fits, cuff styles, inseams, and silhouettes, but I always find myself coming back to wider vintage-inspired fits and button flies over zippers.

More than anything, denim became an extension of the lifestyle I already lived. I’m no longer intimidated by wearing “too much” denim at once because to me it feels natural. Whether it’s chore coats, western shirts, heavyweight jeans, or faded jackets, the pieces all work together because they’re built around function, durability, and honest wear. That’s what originally pulled me into selvedge denim, and it’s what continues to keep me interested in it today.

What made you interested in KATO?

I had my eye on Hiroshi Kato for a long time before I ever owned a pair. I follow a lot of people within the heritage and selvedge community who genuinely wear and support the brand, and over the years I consistently liked everything I saw from them. Obviously, everyone has their own preferences when it comes to fit and styling, but with KATO there was never really a piece that made me hesitate or think twice. Everything always felt thoughtfully designed and intentional.

What initially drew me in was the way they blend modern comfort and functionality with classic heritage styling. A lot of brands lean too far in one direction — either overly fashion-focused or overly traditional — but KATO seems to strike a balance between the two. Their garments still feel rooted in vintage workwear and quality craftsmanship while being practical and wearable for everyday life.

One thing I especially appreciated was their Barrel fit. Since I spend so much time in boots, I prefer wider vintage-inspired fits that sit naturally over footwear rather than tapering aggressively. The Barrel fit checked that box perfectly for me while still looking clean and modern.

When it came time to choose a pair for the fade competition, I wanted something that could genuinely handle the lifestyle I live. The 4-Way Stretch Mammoth Selvedge immediately stood out because I was curious how a stretch selvedge would compare to traditional non-stretch denim over time, especially in a real-world environment with riding horses, farm work, climbing fences, chores, and everyday movement. I figured a fade competition was the perfect opportunity to fully put them through their paces and see how they developed naturally.

Beyond the fit and functionality, what really keeps me interested in KATO is the attention to detail. The craftsmanship, fabric choices, hardware, colors, stitching, and patterns all feel deliberate without being excessive. Nothing feels added just for the sake of trend or decoration. Everything has a purpose and feels carefully considered, which is something I value a lot in both clothing and design.