Sustainability is at the core of Maria McManus's design process, and her resort 2025 collection continued this way with minimalist silhouettes and ethically sourced fabrics.
This season, the Irish designer was inspired by a visual story from climate magazine Atmos that documented the waste crisis in Chile's Atacama Desert.
“This collection was inspired by the Atacama Desert, where the First World tends to get rid of all its excess inventory,” he said. “At first they took me by surprise. You hear that Nigeria, Ghana and Chile are the dumping grounds and I thought it was our inventory or things we had thrown away (used, inherited or discarded), but it is not. “It’s actually excess inventory, so 85 percent are actually companies getting rid of all their excess inventory.”
McManus interpreted this inspiration through a desert color palette of beige, white and lilac and focusing on his commitment to using sustainable fabrics. He also stayed true to his minimalist design codes, creating elegant and versatile pieces that focus on craftsmanship rather than distracting ornamentation.
Several styles were created in recycled merino wool without mules, including a structured coat and a loose-fitting hoodie. McManus also offered many of his favorite silhouettes, including sweaters created with his signature organic cotton blend.
McManus entered the denim category this season, introducing arched jeans with a twisted side seam that continued his polished design ethos. He highlighted jeans and another pant style created in organic cotton as key styles in the line.
The collection's minimalist, traditional styles were balanced with some relaxed, ultra-feminine options, like a cropped jacket with matching lace-up pants, a sheer organza set, and a knee-length lace skirt paired with a wool bodysuit.
Overall, McManus' collection demonstrated her understanding of her minimalist-leaning consumer and how to continually offer sustainable options using innovative fabrics and materials.
