Youth Crew jumpers: Tamworth's Cooper Slack-Smith launches his own label at 10 years old

The 10-year-old fashion designer has just launched his own label, Youth Crew, and walks the Leader through the process while sipping casually on a popper.

"The idea behind it was to get myself a business, it was to start a business and see what it was like to own one and if I could get it successful," Cooper said.

"Seeing mum and dad own successful business, it was clothing at the start for me because I can't really offer technical support, I'm not going to make glitters or candles and I thought jumpers would be practical."

In a world of back-end website design that would confuse most adults, Cooper set up his own online shop and with mum's help, brought on some manufacturers to bring Youth Crew to life.

The range includes jumpers in dusty pink, mustard, navy, khaki and nude for "the next generation of trend-setters, pioneers and groundbreakers".

The first hurdle was finding a business name that wasn't taken, and getting his friends to believe he was bringing the business to life, Cooper said.

"I'm happy, it's mixed feelings but what am I going to do after this? Will I get a new product? Will I stop? I don't really know," he said.

"I'd tell other people who want to own a business, just keep on trying, you might not think at first that your parents will let you do it and that's the case some of the time.

"If your parents will help you out- go for it; just do it and try and if it's something you don't like then don't go on with it."

For mum, Susie Slack-Smith, it was about learning lessons that aren't taught on the chalkboard at school.

"He's a very inquisitive child and always has been; he always asks a billion questions and with technology he's always been really switched on," she said.

"It's a really natural progression for him."

Youth Crew designs are available online.

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