Maria Cornejo swore off color for her Spring show. Having made a big commitment to a sustainable rayon created from wood pulp, she let her fabric and silhouettes do the talking. Models walked her runway barefoot in one all-white look after another. It was a bold, brave statement, one that effectively put Cornejo, who remains independent, at the forefront of eco-conscious designers.
Her Spring clothes are serene and understated. But that’s not the only story she has to tell. Irreverence and audacity are part of the Cornejo vocabulary, as well. The Resort collection that’s arriving in stores in a few weeks’ time, in advance of the all-white lineup, counts among the zestiest of Cornejo’s recent offerings. “A love note to New Orleans,” where she spent an immersive few days earlier this year, it’s alive with layered prints and jacquards. Take the outfit pictured here, which features a “peeling wallpaper” photo-print dress topped rather fearlessly by a clashing “couch upholstery” fil coupe jacquard tunic, both of which are worn with ankle-length black flares and vegetable-dyed lace jazz shoes. That more-is-more ethos defines the collection: A bubble dress is accompanied by a puckered off-the-shoulder tabard, and a draped and twisted dandelion yellow floor-length twill slip dress is layered over a black silk blouse with a pin-tucked neckline. Of course, the dresses could also be worn solo.
Cornejo has her knits hand-crocheted in Bolivia. This time she’s combined organic cotton and nylon tape, which gives them a nice luster. She’s dreaming of working with recycled plastic pulled from the ocean. Consider the gorgeous cardigan in Look 10 a prototype of her good fashion deeds yet to come.
