Maria Cornejo has been a champion of responsibly made fabrics for years. Her recent observations, however, paint a troubling picture: fabric mills are abandoning these materials in favor of less sustainable alternatives. During a showroom visit earlier this week, Cornejo surmised that the lack of demand for sustainable textiles was driving this shift.
The current climate – both literally, with a summer heat wave, and figuratively, with air quality alerts – amplifies the feeling that many in the fashion industry are choosing to ignore the environmental impact of their choices. There’s a sense of hoping the consequences of unsustainable practices will befall other industries. Perhaps, however, the consequences have already arrived, as evidenced by the recent struggles of brick-and-mortar and online department stores.
Responding resourcefully, Cornejo has turned to her own archives for this season’s collection. Familiar shapes are reinterpreted using recycled materials, like the slim-line dress in look 2, previously crafted in silk charmeuse and velvet, now reimagined in a slubby triacetate and linen blend called Doppio. The cocoon jacket in look 15 is made from a stretchy stripe fabric leftover from her spring 2024 collection. Organic cotton eco denim rounds out the collection, showcasing separates and a sharp new jumpsuit.
While the current mood may complicate the enjoyment of shopping, Cornejo’s commitment to reducing waste imbues her collection with a sense of honest virtue. The collection is a testament to the power of resourcefulness and a call to action for the industry to embrace sustainable practices more fully.
