It’s much easier to enjoy minimalism in an art book or photo blog than it is to apply it to your own life. So when you come across someone like Jakob Hetzer, who has seemingly managed to perfect his own version of minimalism, it’s hard not to take notice.

Celebrated for his refined perspective, Hetzer's eponymous label is known for its elegant designs and hyper-focused attention to detail, and his creative consulting group has worked with a wide array of noteworthy brands.

Born in Detroit but raised in Germany, Hetzer’s trajectory isn't a typical one. He dropped out of high school to go to business school, dropped out of business school to go to fashion school, then dropped out of fashion school and moved to LA. This seemingly roundabout path actually speaks to Hetzer’s strong sense of independence. He isn’t afraid to break norms to do what he wants, whether it be rejecting seasonal releases for his label, avoiding fleeting fashion trends or leaving school when he thinks he’s gotten what he wants from it.

It’s an independence that reflects across all aspects of his life and is rooted in his strong sense of self discipline. While most of us freefall deeper into the digital wormhole with each day that passes, 23-year-old Hetzer is intent on limiting his screen time. He doesn’t own a laptop or a television, preferring physical presence to digital interaction when possible, and otherwise working exclusively from his phone. The digital rollback doesn’t mean that Hetzer is oblivious to the power and effectiveness of the medium though, he’s become a cult figure on Instagram and cites Tumblr as a great source of inspiration, it’s just that he’s figured out how to limit his digital footprint in a way that is conducive to his on-the-move lifestyle.

From his tasteful apartment to his thoughtful selection of FWRD styles, there’s a sense that every aspect of Hetzer's approach to creating ---and living for that matter--involves reducing things to their purest form. He has the unique ability to generate a refreshingly new sense of simplicity in an overly cluttered world.

We hung out with Hetzer while he tried on some of his favorite FWRD pieces.